Abstract

VERGARA-AMADOR, Enrique; ARDILA BUITRAGO, Kinsthmena Andrea  and  CALIXTO, Luis Fernando. Anatomical basic principles of the lateral epicondylitis. Rev Cubana Ortop Traumatol [online]. 2011, vol.25, n.2, pp.149-158. ISSN 0864-215X.

Introduction: the term tendinitis has been used frequently for the disease around the epicondyle; however, tendinosis would be more appropriate because of the pathologic process is degenerative with presence of fibroblasts and vascular hyperplasia. Treatment in general is conservative, less of 10 % require surgery. Objective: to describe the anatomy of muscles in the lateral epicondyle with the focus on the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) and the lateral collateral ligament. Methods: twenty elbows were dissected from fresh cadavers. The origin of ECRB and of the lateral collateral ligament was identified; measurements between them werw made and regarding the epicondyle. Results: the tendinous origin of ECRB was present in all the cases located deep into the extensor digitorum comunis. In 19 elbows the tendon of the ECRB was identified as a separate structure, originated anterior to epicondyle in 6 mm as average and 7.93 mm in width. In all elbows it was noted that the origin of the lateral collateral ligament was distal to origin of ECRB. Conclusions: there were two patterns of proximal distribution of ECRB. In the 60 % passed deep to extensor digitorum comunis and in the 40 % it was superficial in the same plane that the extensor carpi radialis longus and the extensor digitorum comunis. The lateral collateral ligament was located in the middle area of condyle in the 40 % of its diameter, it is a useful datum for arthroscopy technique because of performing the deep fasciotomy of extensor carpi radialis brevis, there is the risk of to section the ligament due to the immediate proximity between it and the ligament.

Keywords : tendinosis; tendinitis; tennis elbow; anatomy.

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