Radial tunnel syndrome: a spectrum of clinical presentations

A variety of symptoms associated with 15 cases of resistant tennis elbow and resistant radial tunnel pain are described. These included sensations of popping, paresthesias, and paresis. The duration of symptoms averaged 2.3 years before a definitive diagnosis of radial tunnel syndrome was made. Two unique anomalies were contributing factors in the radial nerve entrapment; one case demonstrated a completely tendinous proximal border of the extensor carpi radialis brevis and the other a bifid extensor carpi radialis brevis origin. Excellent pain relief, elimination of popping, and improvement of the paresthesias and paresis was achieved by release of the radial tunnel in cases unresponsive to conservative treatment.

[Endoscopic examination of the elbow joint from the dorsoradial approach]

At the Second Surgical Clinic in Nürnberg endoscopy of the elbow joint was employed as an aid to diagnosing complaints in 25 elbow joints. The examinations were carried out under anesthetic with dorsoradial approach. The joints were exposed with CO2 gas. There were no complications. Endoscopic examination of the elbow proved helpful both for preoperative diagnosis as well as for the prognosis following elbow-joint surgery.

A clinical and thermographic study of lateral epicondylitis

The diagnosis and management of many soft-tissue lesions remains difficult largely as a result of a lack of objective assessment. It is considered that thermography may fulfil this role. During a therapeutic study of 56 tennis-elbow lesions, detailed clinical assessment was supplemented by serial thermography of the lateral elbow. A characteristic localized thermographic abnormality was found in 53 of the 56 affected elbows and only 3 of 60 (120 elbows) normal age- and sex-matched controls. Microcomputer analysis of the thermal gradient slope across the abnormal area showed a correlation with clinical state, reflecting recovery, and revealing a much smaller diurnal variation than was seen in the solely temperature-based parameters. Clinical features do show some variability both with regard to the site of tenderness and degree of involvement of supination and pronation. While these differences may have pathological significance they do not appear to have prognostic importance. Thermography is a useful objective method for assessment of tennis elbow and may aid the investigation and understanding of other soft-tissue lesions.

[Surgical treatment of external humeral epicondylalgia using Hohmann's operation (review of 52 clinical cases)]

An examination is made of external humeral epicondylalgia and its surgical treatment by Hohmann's operation (tenomyotomy of the epicondyloids). 52 clinical cases operated by this technique in the various Hospitals in the Milan area during the period from 1966 to 1976 are reviewed. The Authors conclude by asserting the superiority of Hohmann's operation as compared with other surgical techniques, since ogods results are accompanied by simplicity and low risk.