1Department of Radiology, Yong San Hospital, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Korea. gy35sh@hanmail.net 2Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Korea.
Published online: September 1, 2002.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of ultrasonographic findings of the common extensor and flexor tendon in evaluation of patients with lateral and medial epicondylitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty eight elbows from twenty four patients (mean age=45.2 years) were included. Ultrasonographic examination was peformed to evaluate lateral or medial epicondylitis. Epicondylitis was divided into five groups according to the severity of diseases: 1) normal, 2) tendinopathy, 3) tendinopathy with a partial tear, partial tear and 4) complete tear. Change in the size of a tendon, bony change of the epicondyle, presence or absence of calcification or echogenic foci in the common tendon and hypervascularity for each categories were also assessed. In addition, these lesions were divided into the superficial and deep according to the location of lesions. RESULTS: According to the severity, there were 15 cases of normal, 13 tendinopathies, 8 tendinopathies with a partial tear, 2 partial tears and 0 complete tear. Bony change was seen only in tendinopathy, tendinopathy with partial tear and partial tear. Calcification or echogenic foci were only observed in cases with tendinopathy and tendinopathy with partial tear. Hypervascularity was only seen in one case of tendinopathy. CONCLUSION: With thorough understanding of ultrasonographic findings of epicondylitis, ultrasonographic examination can be especially useful and effective in evaluating the severity and location of lesions.
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