A 22-year-old male presents with lateral elbow pain that worsens on resisted wrist extension and gripping. Tenderness is maximal over the lateral epicondyle. The condition is most accurately described as:
- A Medial epicondylitis (golfer's elbow) — flexor-pronator muscle inflammation
- B Radial tunnel syndrome — compression of the posterior interosseous nerve at the arcade of Frohse
- C Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) — a degenerative tendinosis of the common extensor origin, primarily extensor carpi radialis brevis ✓
- D Olecranon bursitis — inflammation of the superficial bursa
Correct answer: C. Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) — a degenerative tendinosis of the common extensor origin, primarily extensor carpi radialis brevis
Explanation
Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) is the most common overuse elbow disorder, caused by degenerative micro-tearing (tendinosis, not true inflammatory tendinitis) of the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) at its origin on the lateral epicondyle. Mill's test (passive wrist flexion with elbow extended reproduces pain) is diagnostic. Initial management is physiotherapy, eccentric exercises, and corticosteroid injection; most cases resolve conservatively.
Reference: Maheshwari Essential Orthopaedics, 6th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.