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The role of physical examinations in studies of musculoskeletal disorders of the elbow
  1. Ann Isabel Kryger1,2,
  2. Christina Funch Lassen2,3,
  3. Johan Hviid Andersen4
  1. 1
    Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg, Denmark
  2. 2
    Department of Occupational Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark
  3. 3
    Danish Cancer Society, Institute for Epidemiological Cancer Research, Copenhagen, Denmark
  4. 4
    Department of Occupational Medicine, Herning Hospital, Herning, Denmark
  1. Dr A I Kryger, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, DK-2400 Bispebjerg, Denmark; akry{at}dadlnet.dk

Abstract

Objectives: To present data on pain and physical findings from the elbow region, and to discuss the role of diagnostic criteria in epidemiological studies of epicondylitis.

Methods: From a cohort of computer workers a subgroup of 1369 participants, who reported at least moderate pain in the neck and upper extremities, were invited to a standardised physical examination. Two independent physical examinations were performedone blinded and one not blinded to the medical history. Information concerning musculoskeletal symptoms was obtained by a baseline questionnaire and a similar questionnaire completed on the day of examination.

Results: 349 participants met the authors criteria for being an arm case and 249 were elbow cases. Among the 1369 participants the prevalence of at least mild palpation tenderness and indirect tenderness at the lateral epicondyle was 5.8. The occurrence of physical findings increased markedly by level of pain score. Only about one half with physical findings fulfilled the authors pain criteria for having lateral epicondylitis. A large part with physical findings reported no pain at all in the elbow in any of the two questionnaires, 28 and 22, respectively. Inter-examiner reliability between blinded and not blinded examination was found to be low kappa value 0.340.40.

Conclusion: Very few with at least moderate pain in the elbow region met common specific criteria for lateral epicondylitis. The occurrence of physical findings increased markedly by level of pain score and the associations were strongest with pain intensity scores given just before the examination. Physical signs were commonly found in subjects with no pain complaints. No further impact was achieved if the physical examination was not blinded to the medical history. Furthermore, the authors propose that pain, clinical signs and disability are studied as separate outcomes, and that the diagnoses of lateral epicondylitis should be used only for cases with classical signs of inflammation reflected by severe pain, which for example conveys some disability.

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Footnotes

  • Funding: The study was supported by grants from the Danish Medical Research Council; Contract grant number: nr 9801292, Danish Ministry of Employment, via National Work Environment Authority; Contract grant number: nr 220000010486.

  • Competing interests: None declared.

  • Abbreviations:
    BEC
    baseline elbow case
    BLE
    baseline lateral epicondylitis
    CEC
    current elbow case
    CLE
    baseline lateral epicondylitis
    DASH
    Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire
    NUDATA
    Neck and Upper limb Disorders Among Technical Assistants study