Epicondylitis is treated on an outpatient basis by a traumatologist or orthopedist. The scheme and methods of treatment of epicondylitis are determined taking into account the severity functional disorders, the duration of the disease, as well as changes in the muscles and tendons. The main goals of treatment:
Elimination of pain syndrome.
Restoration of blood circulation in the affected area (to ensure favorable conditions for the restoration of damaged areas).
Restoration of full range of motion.
Restoration of strength of the muscles of the forearm, prevention of their atrophy.
If the pain syndrome in epicondylitis is not very pronounced, and the patient goes to the doctor mainly in order to find out the reason for the appearance of unpleasant sensations in the elbow joint, it will be enough to recommend the patient to observe a protective regime - that is, to carefully monitor their own feelings and exclude movements in which pain appears.
If a patient with epicondylitis is involved in sports or his work is associated with great physical exertion on the muscles of the forearm, it is necessary to temporarily ensure the rest of the affected area. The patient is given a sick leave or is advised to temporarily stop exercising. After the pain disappears, the load can be resumed, starting with a minimum and gradually increasing. In addition, the patient is advised to find out and eliminate the cause of the overload: revise the sports regimen, use more convenient tools, change the technique for performing certain movements.
With severe pain in the acute stage of epicondylitis, short-term immobilization is required. A light plaster or plastic splint is applied on the elbow joint for a period of 7-10 days, fixing the bent elbow joint at an angle of 80 degrees and hanging the hand on a kerchief bandage. At chronic course for epicondylitis, the patient is recommended to fix the elbow joint and forearm with an elastic bandage in the daytime. The bandage must be removed at night.
If symptoms of epicondylitis appear after an injury, cold should be applied to the affected area (an ice pack wrapped in a towel) during the first days. In the acute period, patients suffering from epicondylitis are prescribed physiotherapy: ultrasound, phonophoresis (ultrasound with hydrocortisone), paraffin, ozokerite and Bernard's currents.
The pain syndrome in epicondylitis is caused by the inflammatory process in the soft tissues, therefore, in this disease, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have a certain effect. NSAIDs are used topically, in the form of ointments and gels, since inflammation in epicondylitis is local in nature. The appointment of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs orally or intramuscularly in modern traumatology for epicondylitis is not practiced due to their insufficient effectiveness and an unjustified risk of development side effects.
With persistent pain that does not subside for 1-2 weeks, therapeutic blockade with glucocorticosteroids is performed: betamethasone, methylprednisolone or hydrocortisone. It should be borne in mind that when using methylprendizolone and hydrocortisone during the first day, there will be an increase in pain due to the tissue reaction to these drugs.
A glucocorticosteroid is mixed with an anesthetic (usually lidocaine) and injected into the area of maximum pain. With external epicondylitis, the choice of the injection site is not difficult, the blockade can be performed in the patient's position, both sitting and lying. In case of internal epicondylitis, to carry out the blockade, the patient is placed on a couch face down with arms extended along the body. This position provides access to the area of the internal epicondyle and, unlike the sitting position, excludes accidental damage to the ulnar nerve during the procedure.
At the end of the acute phase of epicondylitis, the patient is prescribed electrophoresis with potassium iodide, novocaine or acetylcholine, UHF and warming compresses on the affected area. In addition, starting from this moment, the patient with epicondylitis is shown therapeutic exercises - repeated short-term overextension of the hand. Such movements help to increase the elasticity of the connective tissue structures and reduce the likelihood of subsequent microtraumas. In the recovery period, massage and mud therapy are prescribed to restore range of motion and prevent muscle atrophy.
At conservative therapy without the use of glucocorticosteroids, the pain syndrome in epicondylitis is usually completely eliminated within 2-3 weeks, with blockades - within 1-3 days. In rare cases, persistent pain is observed that does not disappear even after injections of glucocorticosteroid drugs. The likelihood of such a course increases with chronic epicondylitis with frequent relapses, joint hypermobility syndrome and bilateral epicondylitis.
In the chronic course of epicondylitis with frequent exacerbations, patients are advised to stop playing sports or switch to another job, limiting the load on the muscles of the forearm. If the pain syndrome persists for 3-4 months, it is indicated surgery- excision of the affected areas of the tendon in the area of its attachment to the bone.
The operation is carried out in a planned manner under general anesthesia or conduction anesthesia. In the postoperative period, a splint is applied, the sutures are removed after 10 days. Subsequently, restorative therapy is prescribed, which includes physiotherapy exercises, massage and physiotherapy procedures.
Video about epicondylitis of the elbow joint from the program "Health": The solution of the first problem in the treatment of epicondylitis is carried out using traditional and surgical methods.
Construction workers (plasterers, painters, bricklayers);
Since the disease itself refers to chronic pathology, the treatment process will be long. First of all, it is required to create rest for the sore hand, to limit movements that cause acute pain. You can purchase special elbow pads or fix the joint with an eight-band bandage. In case of chronic course, it is recommended to apply an elastic bandage during the day, and remove it in the evening. You should not lift weights, otherwise all therapeutic measures will be useless.
Do not ignore the warm-up before the power load;
Treatment of the disease is carried out on an outpatient basis, for this you need to contact a traumatologist or orthopedist. The main objectives of therapy are:
Sudden movement that could result in injury.
When the first signs of the disease appear, you should immediately contact an experienced specialist, and not try to treat the damaged forearm on your own. This is very important because epicondylitis has symptoms similar to those of other diseases. It can be easily confused with arthritis. shoulder joint, arthritis and osteoarthritis of the brachioradial joint, as well as bursitis of the supracondylar bursa.
The prognosis is generally favorable, with the observance of the correct regime of work, physical activity and rest, you can achieve a stable remission.
With mild pain in the shoulder, it is recommended to exclude the movements that cause them to appear, temporarily providing peace to the elbow joint (take sick leave at work or take a break from sports training).
Treatment of lateral epicondylitis in the acute stage occurs by such a method as immobilization of the upper limb for a period of 7-8 days with the forearm bent at the joint (80 degrees), and the wrist joint - with small dorsal extension.
Athletes (kettlebell lifters, weightlifters, wrestlers, boxers) and others.
Great success can be achieved with the help of physiotherapy exercises, only all exercises must be performed for a long time - several weeks, or even months. Also used hirudotherapy, massage of the affected area, mud therapy.
It is better to conduct classes in the gym under the supervision of a trainer;
The basis for the development of inflammation is small tears of the tendons and muscles at the site of their attachment to the epicondyle. These injuries lead to the appearance of a limited traumatic periostitis. Epicondylitis can be accompanied by calcifications and inflammation of the joint capsule (bursitis).
The disease can be diagnosed using dynamometry or thermography methods. X-ray studies are also used, but on early stages it is not always possible to identify signs of pathology. Finding foci of compaction in the epicondyle is possible only with a long-standing disease.
After the end of the acute stage of the disease, therapeutic exercises help to restore the functionality of the joint, the purpose of which is to stretch and relax the muscles and tendons. Exercises of exercise therapy include flexion and extension of the hand and elbow joint, pronation-supination of the forearm. At first, they are performed as passive movements, i.e. with the help of a healthy hand, then they move on to active movements carried out by the muscles of the developed hand.
In case of severe pain syndrome in the exacerbation phase, short-term immobilization of the joint is carried out using a plaster of Paris or a splint. You can also wear a special orthopedic orthosis, but it long-term use ineffective.
The presence of concomitant diseases.
- This is a degenerative-inflammatory tissue damage in the area of the shoulder joint: the epicondyles and the tendons attached to them.
By themselves, such activities do not cause epicondylitis. This disease occurs with constant monotonous flexion and extension of the elbow joint, when there is a load on the arm. Accordingly, the dominant hand suffers the most. In other words, the main version of the reasons for the development of epicondylitis is tendon overload, as well as some tissue microtrauma that provoke the development of inflammation processes.
Other methods of physiotherapy are also effective. Your doctor will advise you on how to treat elbow epicondylitis without surgery. Electrophoresis with acetylcholine, potassium iodide is prescribed. Often, the patient is relieved by phonophoresis with hydrocortisone.
With regular sports, daily massage sessions are required;
Depending on the cause that caused the development of the disease, the following forms can be distinguished:
Treatment of shoulder epicondylitis involves the use of conservative and surgical methods.
Medical treatment includes:
Epicondylitis of the shoulder is often diagnosed in people whose main activity is associated with repetitive hand movements: in drivers of various vehicles, in surgeons, massage therapists, plasterers, painters, milkmaids, hairdressers, typists, musicians, etc.
The humerus bones have at their ends the so-called condyles - bony thickenings, on the surface of which there are other protrusions - epicondyles, which serve for the attachment of muscles.
Ultrasound has a good analgesic effect in the treatment of epicondylitis of the elbow joint, but it is even better to use phonophoresis (the so-called ultrasound with hydrocortisone).
Epicondylitis is of two types.
Take complex vitamins regularly;
When contacting a doctor immediately after an injury, cold must be applied to the damaged area;
Traumatic - occurs due to the presence of microtraumas of tendons and muscles in athletes and people engaged in heavy physical labor. A factor that can provoke the development of traumatic epicondylitis is the presence of deforming arthrosis.
Epicondylitis of the shoulder is a disease resulting from overstrain and microdamage of the muscles that attach to the epicondyle of the humerus.
Use of NSAIDs for external use (ointments and gels): Diclofenac, Voltaren, Indomethacin, Nurofen;
Among athletes, tennis and golfers are most prone to this disease. No wonder lateral epicondylitis is also called "tennis elbow", and medial - "golfer's elbow".
The main cause of epicondylitis is chronic overstrain of the muscles of the forearm, in most cases - in the course of professional activity.
Bernard currents, ozokerite and paraffin applications are also widely used.
- degenerative-dystrophic process in the places of muscle attachment to the epicondyle of the humerus.
Cure all chronic foci of infection.
Locally, the use of ointments and gels is prescribed, which include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; Post-traumatic - can occur after dislocations, sprains or other damage to the joint. The likelihood of developing post-traumatic epicondylitis increases significantly if the doctor's recommendations are not followed during the rehabilitation period after injury.
You can also fix the affected arm with an elastic neoprene bandage, which also performs a warming function and performs micromassage.
Epicondylitis is a very common condition in the working arm. The general decrease in the load, which is observed due to high level production mechanization, and at the same time increasing specific gravity small movements carried out by the muscles of the forearms leads to the onset of the development of muscle overstrain.
Blockade with corticosteroid drugs (hydrocortisone or methylprednisolone), which are injected directly into the area of inflammation;
Among other diseases, epicondylitis is often accompanied by cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis, periarthritis of the shoulder scapula, osteoporosis.
Shoulder epicondylitis accounts for 21% occupational diseases hands.
In order to anesthetize the area and improve local trophism, blockades are carried out at the attachment point of the extensors of the fingers and hand with novocaine or lidocaine, which are very often combined with hydrocortisone.
Is a disease in which there is inflammation of the muscle attachment site to the lateral epicondyle of the bone. Often this disease is called "tennis elbow", as this problem is quite typical for those people who practice this sport. Nevertheless, lateral epicondylitis sometimes occurs not only in athletes. The cause of lateral epicondylitis of the elbow joint is muscle overstrain at the site of their attachment to the epicondyle of the shoulder bone. Such overvoltage occurs when playing tennis, but it can also appear during other monotonous work (sawing wood, painting a wall, etc.). The disease usually appears between the ages of 30 and 50.
What is the difference between external and medial epicondylitis of the elbow joint? The prognosis of the disease is always favorable, it does not threaten the patient's life, and with the appointment of adequate treatment, remission can be achieved, which will last for a long time if you follow the rules of prevention.
With prolonged intractable pain, a blockade with glucocorticosteroids can be used;
The severity of symptoms and signs of epicondylitis depends on the stage of development of the inflammatory process and destructive changes in the joint. Experts point out:
After the acute pains disappear, the patient will need to switch to physiotherapy: diadynamic therapy and paraffin applications. Massage is contraindicated in this case, as it can exacerbate inflammation.
Epicondylitis can be external and internal. The first occurs many times more often.
B vitamins injections.
The peak incidence occurs in the age range. External epicondylitis occurs 10 times more often than internal epicondylitis. Also, this type of epicondylitis affects mainly men, while medial epicondylitis is diagnosed mainly in women.
There are two main types of epicondylitis:
The acute stage of the disease, characterized by the presence of acute or burning pain, which has a different duration and duration, painful sensations intensified when moving in the joint and can radiate (spread) along the muscle fibers, while the focus of pain is clearly defined;
If conservative methods do not work, a surgical operation is indicated - fasciomyotomy.
Common symptoms of the disease:
In a severe form of the disease, local injections of glucocorticoids in combination with anesthetics, for example, betamethasone or hydrocortisone, together with novocaine, are indicated. These injections are made at the most painful point in cases where other medical measures do not help.
Elbow epicondylitis is an inflammatory-degenerative disorder associated with inflammation of those muscles that attach to the epicondyles of the humerus and forearm bones. Distinguish between external, or lateral epicondylitis, and internal (medial) epicondylitis.
Epicondylitis usually develops on the right limb, since most have it in a working limb.
Strengthening of pain syndrome during loading on the elbow joint and muscles of the forearm;
The muscles extending from the external epicondyle extend the elbow, hand and fingers, and are responsible for supination (outward rotation) of the hand and forearm. The tendons of the flexor muscles of the elbow, wrist and fingers are attached to the internal epicondyle. These muscles provide pronation of the forearm and hand.
This disease is more common in men over the age of 40
Then weakness appears in the hand, which makes it impossible for the patient to hold even light objects. He constantly drops tools, dishes and other things. If the hand is left alone and slightly bent at the elbow, then the pain stops.
Phonophoresis and electrophoresis;
To prevent and treat muscle atrophy and restore joint function, massage of the muscles of the forearm and shoulder, mud therapy, exercise therapy and dry air baths are used. In addition, special exercises for elbow epicondylitis help well.
The main objectives of the treatment of epicondylitis of the elbow joint can be formulated in a certain way:
Elbow epicondylitis is an inflammatory condition in the elbow area (where muscles attach to the forearm bone). The disease, depending on the place where the inflammation occurred, is external and internal. In this case, external epicondylitis of the elbow joint can develop during inflammation of the tendons that are located on the outside of the elbow joint.
What is the treatment for lateral epicondylitis of the elbow joint?
Physiotherapy: phonophoresis, cryotherapy, shock wave therapy, diadynamic therapy, pulse magnetotherapy.
Since the main reason for the development of knee epicondylitis is professional sports, experts distinguish several types of development of the process, which are somewhat different from each other:
Experts consider professional sports to be the main reason for the development of knee joint lesions, in addition to this, the following factors can contribute to the development of the disease:
During examination of the patient's elbow joint, the doctor may find slight swelling at the site of the epicondyle, accompanied by pain at the moment of touching the elbow. The doctor can fully extend the patient's elbow joint slowly and smoothly. If the patient himself unbends the elbow, then severe pains will occur in the epicondyle. There is no discomfort when flexing.
Bernard's currents; With epicondylitis of the shoulder, joint pain appears only with independent active movements and muscle tension. Passive movements (extension and flexion), when the doctor himself performs them with the patient's hand, are painless. This is the difference between this disease and arthritis or arthrosis.
Surgical methods for the treatment of medial epicondylitis of the elbow joint are used with unsuccessful conservative treatment for 3-4 months.
Eliminate pain at the site of the lesion;
Internal epicondylitis is an inflammation of those muscles that provide extension and flexion of the hand (in other words, the inner part).
The main complaint that patients present is a sharp pain in the elbow joint. Pain sensations can spread up and down the outer or inner side of the arm, reaching the middle of the forearm.
Treatment of the disease is performed on an outpatient basis
With the so-called "swimmer's knee" microtraumas develop during repulsion from the water, while the medially located ligament of the joint is constantly overstrained, which contributes to the development of the disease;
Stereotypical repetitive movements in the joint, which are performed by people engaged in some work or visiting the fitness room;
Rotational movements with a bent forearm are easy and painless for the patient, but when the arm is fully extended, they are difficult because of the severe pain that occurs.
The so-called Hohmann operation is widely used. In 1926, he proposed excising some of the tendon at the extensors of the fingers and hand. Today, such an excision is not performed at the point of transition into the muscle, as was proposed in the original version, but near the area of attachment of the tendon to the bone itself.
To restore or improve regional blood circulation;
It should be noted that the development of external epicondylitis occurs most often. This disease is considered one of the most common in the area of the musculoskeletal system.As a rule, pain occurs when the forearm is extended and rotated outward. A characteristic feature of epicondylitis is the absence of pain with passive hand movements (without the participation of the patient's muscular apparatus). This allows you to distinguish epicondylitis from other diseases of the elbow joint - arthritis and arthrosis.
If epicondylitis cannot be cured by conservative methods, surgical intervention can be prescribed.With the "jumper's knee", the inflammatory process is localized in the patella, pain is felt at the place of attachment of the ligaments at the bottom of the patella; basketball and volleyball players are susceptible to the development of such a pathology;
Joint injuries - shock, sprain, fall, tearing of ligaments when trying to lift or move a heavy load;
Epicondylitis is characterized by symptoms of Thomsen and Welsh. In the first case, an attempt to hold the hand clenched into a fist in the dorsiflexion position in the epicondyle of the affected limb is accompanied by acute pain, while the hand immediately drops. Identification of Thomsen's symptom involves conducting a test simultaneously on two hands.
Cryotherapy, etc.
This inflammation doesn't just happen because epicondylitis is a secondary condition. The exact causes of elbow epicondylitis are not known to doctors. Experts were able to find out which groups of people are most susceptible to this disease. These include:
The projection of pain does not fall on the joint itself, but on the lower portions of the ulna. Often the patient can point with his finger the most painful place. The process of shaking hands, lifting small weights, for example, a tea cup, causes great difficulties.
It is possible to prevent the development of epicondylitis by following some simple recommendations:
The most common (practically in one third of all professional athletes-runners) the development of "runner's knee" pain is the result of compression of the nerves that innervate the patella.
Chronic increased stress on the knees;
Welsh's symptom is the appearance of severe pain in the epicondyle zone with simultaneous extension of the forearms, which are in a bent position at the level of the chin.
Experts have different opinions about massage. Some of them believe that massage for epicondylitis is useless and even harmful.
MRI and biochemical analysis blood tests are carried out when it is necessary to differentiate epicondylitis with other diseases or injuries (fracture, tunnel syndrome or GHS).
The specifics of professional activities;
In the case of a chronic course of this disease with frequent exacerbations and unsuccessful treatment, patients must change the nature of their work.
Prevent forearm muscle atrophy.
Workers Agriculture(milkmaids, tractor drivers, handymen);
Causes and symptoms of elbow epicondylitis
Follow the rules for performing physical exercises;
In order to prescribe adequate treatment, it is necessary to carefully collect data about the patient and carry out a qualified examination. In rare cases, an X-ray examination is additionally prescribed (in order to exclude the presence of a fracture) or MRI (to confirm the diagnosis if tunnel syndrome is suspected).
Inconsistent functioning of the muscles that ensure the work of the knee joint;
[localization code see above]
Bone spur NOS
In Russia International classification diseases of the 10th revision (ICD-10) was adopted as a single normative document to take into account the incidence, reasons for medical institutions all departments, causes of death.
ICD-10 was introduced into healthcare practice throughout the Russian Federation in 1999 by order of the Ministry of Health of Russia dated 05/27/97. No. 170
A new revision (ICD-11) is planned by WHO in 2017 2018.
As amended and supplemented by WHO
Processing and translation of changes © mkb-10.com
ICD-10 code: M77.0 (Medial epicondylitis), M77.1 (Lateral epicondylitis)
Lateral and medial epicondylitis of the elbow joint or shoulder epindicolitis is an inflammatory pathology.
The disease affects the elbow joint where muscles attach to the forearm bone. The humerus in the elbow region has special bony formations (epicondyles or epicondylosis). They represent the place where the flexor and extensor tendons attach, as well as the articular ligaments of the wrist and fingers.
Epicondylitis of the shoulder refers to secondary diseases and therefore develops not suddenly, but gradually. The exact causes of the onset of the pathology are not known, experts only single out the main risk groups.
However, by themselves, these activities do not lead to the development of epicondylitis. The disease occurs as a result of constant monotonous flexion and extension of the elbow joint when exercising a load on the arm.
The humerus has two epicondylus, medial (internal) and lateral (external). Therefore, there is lateral epicondylitis and medial.
Muscle tendons are attached to the medial epicondyle, which are responsible for inward rotation (pronation) of the hand and forearm, flexion of the fingers and hand in the wrist joint. The extensor muscles are attached to the lateral, which allow you to rotate the hand and forearm outward.
The development process and causes of brachial epicondylitis are not fully understood. Some experts believe that the causes of it are damage to the tendons as a result of their friction against the bone. Others believe that the disease is preceded by an inflammatory process in the periosteum of the epicondylus.
There is also a theory that epicondylitis of the shoulder and elbow joint develops due to osteochondrosis. This theory is confirmed by the fact that in the treatment of osteochondrosis, pain in the elbow decreases.
Most often, lateral epicondylitis of the dominant hand develops. In this case, aching pains when trying to active physical movements, flexion or extension of the elbow and hand. Passive movements do not cause discomfort. The pain occurs when the extensor muscles are felt and radiates to the outer part of the shoulder.
Medial epicondylitis is not diagnosed very often and is the result of repeated repetitive flexion movements. The pain is sharp, radiates to the inner surface of the forearm. It occurs during rotation of the forearm and during flexion movements.
Epicondylitis of the shoulder is acute, subacute, and chronic. Initially, the pain is accompanied by a sharp overstrain of the muscles, then it becomes constant and the muscles of the arms quickly get tired.
In the subacute stage with epicondylitis of the shoulder joint, the intensity of pain sensations decreases, at rest they pass. The chronic course is characterized by an alternation of relapses and remissions, which last from 3 months to six months.
The most obvious sign is a painful sensation of a whining character in the wrist and elbow joints, difficulty in active movements. Symptoms of pain become worse with the most common movements, such as shaking hands, trying to clench the hand into a fist, or extending the arm.
Inflammation develops at the site of attachment of the bone to the lateral epicondyle. Lateral epicondylitis of the elbow joint is called "external", or "tennis player's elbow", as it is characteristic of players involved in this sport.
But this by no means means that only tennis players have an ailment. A factor in the development of the disease is the excessive tension of the muscles of the elbow joint in the place of their attachment to the epicondyle of the shoulder bone.
This disease often occurs in tennis players, but in ordinary people it can also manifest itself when performing monotonous strenuous work, for example, when chopping wood.
Internal epicondylitis is called golfer's elbow or medial. The disease occurs as a result of injuries, unsuccessful movements with a sharp extension of the arm, and the use of a number of hand tools.
Before treating epicondylitis of the elbow joint, the doctor asks the patient about the complaints, examines the symptoms, examines the diseased joint. Sometimes X-rays are taken to rule out long-term injury. A number of tests are carried out.
The patient is asked to pick up a cup of liquid from the table. When he tries to do this, the painful symptoms intensify several times. This indicates lateral epicondylitis.
A sick person is offered to clench a hand, palm down, into a fist. Then quickly unfold it with your palm up.
It is necessary to raise the forearms to the level of the chin, start bending and unbending both arms at once.
During the tests of Welt and Thomson, the actions performed with the healthy and sick hands differ significantly in speed. In addition, severe pain symptoms are observed in the diseased limb.
It is necessary to treat lateral and medial epicondylitis in combination.
It all depends on the stage of development of the disease, the cause, changes in tendons and muscles in the area of the hand and elbow, the level of disruption of the joint.
The treatment helps relieve pain symptoms, unload muscles, and eliminates inflammation. Apply drug therapy, treatment folk remedies... In order to unload muscles, use:
Treatment involves temporary abandonment of professional activities that led to the development of epicondylitis. Also, in order to immobilize the joint, a special bandage is used.
It allows you to immobilize a diseased limb, relieve severe pain. Professional athletes wear a bandage regularly to prevent overloading of the joint.
A brace is a special device that is attached to the upper part of the forearm. It prevents sore muscles from contracting and thus relieves them of stress. An orthopedic band is worn only during wakefulness; it is removed during sleep.
The principle of its use is simple. The bandage firmly fixes the elbow joint, preventing excessive range of motion. His choice must be approached thoroughly, it is better that the bandage is selected by an orthopedist, taking into account the anatomical features of the joint.
It helps to restore the motor functions of the elbow joint. Gymnastics involves performing simple movements that stimulate the muscles to work. Exercises are performed to stretch the tendons with maximum abduction of the hand.
Hand trainers are used to help you do three-dimensional exercises. Classes begin to perform with simulators of maximum rigidity. Exercises are selected in such a way that the muscles are not overstrained.
To relieve pain, tablets are prescribed: analgin, ketanov, renalgin. Local treatment is also carried out, injections of glucocorticoids are used, such as Diprospan, Betamethasone.
Anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed in the form of tablets or ointments, which include Indomethacin, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen. Compresses with Dimexide are used.
For anesthesia, improvement of local tissue trophism, blockages are made at the attachment point of the hand and fingers with lidocaine or novocaine in combination with hydrocortisone.
It will be enough 4 blockades with an interval of two days. Injections of B vitamins are prescribed.
Physiotherapeutic treatment is carried out:
These procedures improve metabolic processes in tendon and muscle tissues, restore blood microcirculation in muscle tissues, and eliminate pain and inflammation.
The painful area is cooled. Cold accumulators or chloroethyl irrigation are used. You can use ice cubes wrapped in a towel. The procedure is carried out once a day.
Massage is performed every day for 15 minutes. Knead the points where the muscle seals are located. The course is 12 days. The massage should not give the patient unpleasant sensations.
If all of the above procedures do not bring positive dynamics and the expected result, the disease progresses, then surgical treatment is used.
It includes the following techniques:
In order for epicondylitis of the shoulder and elbow joint not to become chronic, a number of rules should be followed:
For cooking, you will need to take the leaves and roots of the plant (1: 1). Heat up vegetable oil and honey, combine them in a deep container. The volume of this mixture should be equal to the volume of the plant material taken.
Comfrey is gradually added to a bowl of honey and butter, stirring constantly. As a result, you should get a homogeneous mixture in the form of an ointment. It is impregnated with tissue and wrapped around the affected joint. Fasten with an elastic bandage and warm with a woolen scarf. The compress is kept on the joint for a day, then replaced with a new one.
To restore damaged ligaments, treatment with such folk remedies as a mixture of comfrey and interior fat will help. A glass of bacon is mixed with half a glass of comfrey root. A compress is made to the affected joint for 2 hours until the pain sensations disappear completely.
It is used after acute inflammation has been removed. Take clay and hot water in equal proportions, mix and spread on cheesecloth folded in half.
Applied to the affected joint and secured. Insulate, leave for half an hour. You can do three of these compresses a day. Clay warms up a sore joint and relaxes tense muscles.
After drinking the tea, collect what is left in the teapot and freeze it. Then wipe the sore joint with the resulting ice in a circular motion.
This method treats external epicondylitis well. Rub herbal ice the affected joint needs about a minute, but you can repeat the procedure several times a day.
The above ointments and compresses are easy to make at home, but it is worth remembering that treatment with folk remedies may be unsafe, so you should consult your doctor.
There is a definite similarity between shoulder (ulnar) and knee epicondylitis. Epicondylitis of the knee joint is called "jumper's or runner's knee" and develops in a similar way.
That is, it is caused by damage to the joint capsules, ligaments, as well as lumbar osteochondrosis. The treatment for both diseases is also very similar.
Epicondylitis is a chronic degenerative disease and therefore cannot be completely cured.
However, if you use all of the above treatment methods, take care of the elbow joint, wear a bandage, do gymnastics, use folk remedies, you can achieve stable remission, forget about the feeling of discomfort, without changing your usual life and professional activities.
Video about epicondylitis of the elbow joint from the program "Health": The solution to the first problem in the treatment of epicondylitis is carried out by using traditional and surgical methods.
Construction workers (plasterers, painters, bricklayers);
Since the disease itself belongs to a chronic pathology, the treatment process will be long. First of all, it is required to create rest for the sore hand, to limit movements that cause acute pain. You can purchase special elbow pads or fix the joint with an eight-band bandage. In case of chronic course, it is recommended to apply an elastic bandage during the day, and remove it in the evening. You should not lift weights, otherwise all therapeutic measures will be useless.
Do not ignore the warm-up before the power load;
Treatment of the disease is carried out on an outpatient basis, for this you need to contact a traumatologist or orthopedist. The main objectives of therapy are:
Sudden movement that could result in injury.
When the first signs of the disease appear, you should immediately contact an experienced specialist, and not try to treat the damaged forearm on your own. This is very important because epicondylitis has symptoms similar to those of other diseases. It can be easily confused with shoulder arthritis, arthritis and osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, and bursitis of the bursa supracondylar.
The prognosis is generally favorable, with the observance of the correct regime of work, physical activity and rest, you can achieve a stable remission.
With mild pain in the shoulder, it is recommended to exclude the movements that cause them to appear, temporarily providing peace to the elbow joint (take sick leave at work or take a break from sports training). Doing certain sports; Epicondylitis of the shoulder
Treatment of lateral epicondylitis in the acute stage occurs by such a method as immobilization of the upper limb for a period of 7-8 days with the forearm bent at the joint (80 degrees), and the wrist joint - with small dorsal extension.
Athletes (kettlebell lifters, weightlifters, wrestlers, boxers) and others.
Great success can be achieved with the help of physiotherapy exercises, only all exercises must be performed for a long time - several weeks, or even months. Also used hirudotherapy, massage of the affected area, mud therapy.
It is better to conduct classes in the gym under the supervision of a trainer;
Pain relief:
The basis for the development of inflammation is small tears of the tendons and muscles at the site of their attachment to the epicondyle. These injuries lead to the appearance of a limited traumatic periostitis. Epicondylitis can be accompanied by calcifications and inflammation of the joint capsule (bursitis).
The disease can be diagnosed using dynamometry or thermography methods. X-ray studies are also used, however, in the early stages, it is far from always possible to identify signs of pathology. Finding foci of compaction in the epicondyle is possible only with a long-standing disease.
After the end of the acute stage of the disease, therapeutic exercises help to restore the functionality of the joint, the purpose of which is to stretch and relax the muscles and tendons. Exercises of exercise therapy include flexion and extension of the hand and elbow joint, pronation-supination of the forearm. At first, they are performed as passive movements, i.e. with the help of a healthy hand, then they move on to active movements carried out by the muscles of the developed hand.
In case of severe pain syndrome in the exacerbation phase, short-term immobilization of the joint is carried out using a plaster of Paris or a splint. You can also wear a special orthopedic orthosis, but its long-term use is ineffective.
The presence of concomitant diseases.
- This is a degenerative-inflammatory tissue damage in the area of the shoulder joint: the epicondyles and the tendons attached to them.
By themselves, such activities do not cause epicondylitis. This disease occurs with constant monotonous flexion and extension of the elbow joint, when there is a load on the arm. Accordingly, the dominant hand suffers the most. In other words, the main version of the reasons for the development of epicondylitis is tendon overload, as well as some tissue microtrauma that provoke the development of inflammation processes.
Other methods of physiotherapy are also effective. Your doctor will advise you on how to treat elbow epicondylitis without surgery. Electrophoresis with acetylcholine, potassium iodide is prescribed. Often, the patient is relieved by phonophoresis with hydrocortisone.
With regular sports, daily massage sessions are required;
Depending on the cause that caused the development of the disease, the following forms can be distinguished:
Treatment of shoulder epicondylitis involves the use of conservative and surgical methods.
Medical treatment includes:
Epicondylitis of the shoulder is often diagnosed in people whose main activity is associated with repetitive hand movements: in drivers of various vehicles, in surgeons, massage therapists, plasterers, painters, milkmaids, hairdressers, typists, musicians, etc.
The humerus bones have at their ends the so-called condyles - bony thickenings, on the surface of which there are other protrusions - epicondyles, which serve for the attachment of muscles.
Ultrasound has a good analgesic effect in the treatment of epicondylitis of the elbow joint, but it is even better to use phonophoresis (the so-called ultrasound with hydrocortisone).
Epicondylitis is of two types.
Epicondylitis
Take complex vitamins regularly;
When contacting a doctor immediately after an injury, cold must be applied to the damaged area;
Traumatic - occurs due to the presence of microtraumas of tendons and muscles in athletes and people engaged in heavy physical labor. A factor that can provoke the development of traumatic epicondylitis is the presence of deforming arthrosis.
Epicondylitis of the shoulder is a disease resulting from overstrain and microdamage of the muscles that attach to the epicondyle of the humerus.
Use of NSAIDs for external use (ointments and gels): Diclofenac, Voltaren, Indomethacin, Nurofen;
Among athletes, tennis and golfers are most prone to this disease. No wonder lateral epicondylitis is also called "tennis elbow", and medial - "golfer's elbow".
The main cause of epicondylitis is chronic overstrain of the muscles of the forearm, in most cases - in the course of professional activity.
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Bernard currents, ozokerite and paraffin applications are also widely used.
Lateral epicondylitis
- degenerative-dystrophic process in the places of muscle attachment to the epicondyle of the humerus.
Cure all chronic foci of infection.
Locally, the use of ointments and gels is prescribed, which include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; Post-traumatic - can occur after dislocations, sprains or other damage to the joint. The likelihood of developing post-traumatic epicondylitis increases significantly if the doctor's recommendations are not followed during the rehabilitation period after injury.
You can also fix the affected arm with an elastic neoprene bandage, which also performs a warming function and performs micromassage.
Epicondylitis is a very common condition in the working arm. A general decrease in the load, which is observed due to a high level of industrial mechanization, and at the same time an increase in the proportion of small movements carried out by the muscles of the forearms leads to the onset of the development of muscle overstrain.
Blockade with corticosteroid drugs (hydrocortisone or methylprednisolone), which are injected directly into the area of inflammation;
Among other diseases, epicondylitis is often accompanied by cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis, periarthritis of the shoulder scapula, osteoporosis.
Shoulder epicondylitis accounts for 21% of occupational hand diseases.
In order to anesthetize the area and improve local trophism, blockades are carried out at the attachment point of the extensors of the fingers and hand with novocaine or lidocaine, which are very often combined with hydrocortisone.
Is a disease in which there is inflammation of the muscle attachment site to the lateral epicondyle of the bone. Often this disease is called "tennis elbow", as this problem is quite typical for those people who practice this sport. Nevertheless, lateral epicondylitis sometimes occurs not only in athletes. The cause of lateral epicondylitis of the elbow joint is muscle overstrain at the site of their attachment to the epicondyle of the shoulder bone. Such overvoltage occurs when playing tennis, but it can also appear during other monotonous work (sawing wood, painting a wall, etc.). The disease usually appears between the ages of 30 and 50.
What is the difference between external and medial elbow epicondylitis? The prognosis of the disease is always favorable, it does not threaten the patient's life, and with the appointment of adequate treatment, remission can be achieved, which will last for a long time if the rules of prevention are followed.
With prolonged intractable pain, a blockade with glucocorticosteroids can be used;
The severity of symptoms and signs of epicondylitis depends on the stage of development of the inflammatory process and destructive changes in the joint. Experts point out:
After the acute pains disappear, the patient will need to switch to physiotherapy: diadynamic therapy and paraffin applications. Massage is contraindicated in this case, as it can exacerbate inflammation.
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Epicondylitis can be external and internal. The first occurs many times more often.
B vitamins injections.
The peak incidence is in the 40-60 age range. External epicondylitis occurs 10 times more often than internal epicondylitis. Also, this type of epicondylitis affects mainly men, while medial epicondylitis is diagnosed mainly in women.
There are two main types of epicondylitis:
The acute stage of the disease, characterized by the presence of acute or burning pain, which has a different duration and duration, painful sensations intensify when moving in the joint and can radiate (spread) along the muscle fibers, while the focus of pain is clearly defined;
If conservative methods do not work, a surgical operation is indicated - fasciomyotomy.
Common symptoms of the disease:
In a severe form of the disease, local injections of glucocorticoids in combination with anesthetics, for example, betamethasone or hydrocortisone, together with novocaine, are indicated. These injections are made at the most painful point in cases where other medical measures do not help.
Elbow epicondylitis is an inflammatory-degenerative disorder associated with inflammation of those muscles that attach to the epicondyles of the humerus and forearm bones. Distinguish between external, or lateral epicondylitis, and internal (medial) epicondylitis.
Epicondylitis usually develops on the right limb, since most have it in a working limb.
Shock wave therapy;
Magnetotherapy;
Strengthening of pain syndrome during loading on the elbow joint and muscles of the forearm;
The muscles extending from the external epicondyle extend the elbow, hand and fingers, and are responsible for supination (outward rotation) of the hand and forearm. The tendons of the flexor muscles of the elbow, wrist and fingers are attached to the internal epicondyle. These muscles provide pronation of the forearm and hand.
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Then weakness appears in the hand, which makes it impossible for the patient to hold even light objects. He constantly drops tools, dishes and other things. If the hand is left alone and slightly bent at the elbow, then the pain stops.
Phonophoresis and electrophoresis;
To prevent and treat muscle atrophy and restore joint function, massage of the muscles of the forearm and shoulder, mud therapy, exercise therapy and dry air baths are used. In addition, special exercises for elbow epicondylitis help well.
The main objectives of the treatment of epicondylitis of the elbow joint can be formulated in a certain way:
Elbow epicondylitis is an inflammatory condition in the elbow area (where muscles attach to the forearm bone). The disease, depending on the place where the inflammation occurred, is external and internal. In this case, external epicondylitis of the elbow joint can develop during inflammation of the tendons that are located on the outside of the elbow joint.
What is the treatment for lateral epicondylitis of the elbow joint?
Physiotherapy: phonophoresis, cryotherapy, shock wave therapy, diadynamic therapy, pulse magnetotherapy.
Since the main reason for the development of knee epicondylitis is professional sports, experts distinguish several types of development of the process, which are somewhat different from each other:
Experts consider professional sports to be the main reason for the development of knee joint lesions, in addition to this, the following factors can contribute to the development of the disease:
During examination of the patient's elbow joint, the doctor may find slight swelling at the site of the epicondyle, accompanied by pain at the moment of touching the elbow. The doctor can fully extend the patient's elbow joint slowly and smoothly. If the patient himself unbends the elbow, then severe pains will occur in the epicondyle. There is no discomfort when flexing.
Bernard's currents; With epicondylitis of the shoulder, joint pain appears only with independent active movements and muscle tension. Passive movements (extension and flexion), when the doctor himself performs them with the patient's hand, are painless. This is the difference between this disease and arthritis or arthrosis.
Shoulder joint
Surgical methods for the treatment of medial epicondylitis of the elbow joint are used with unsuccessful conservative treatment for 3-4 months.
Eliminate pain at the site of the lesion;
Internal epicondylitis is an inflammation of those muscles that provide extension and flexion of the hand (in other words, the inner part).
The main complaint that patients present is a sharp pain in the elbow joint. Pain sensations can spread up and down the outer or inner side of the arm, reaching the middle of the forearm.
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With the so-called "swimmer's knee" microtraumas develop during repulsion from the water, while the medially located ligament of the joint is constantly overstrained, which contributes to the development of the disease;
Stereotypical repetitive movements in the joint, which are performed by people engaged in some work or visiting the fitness room;
Rotational movements with a bent forearm are easy and painless for the patient, but when the arm is fully extended, they are difficult because of the severe pain that occurs.
The so-called Hohmann operation is widely used. In 1926, he proposed excising some of the tendon at the extensors of the fingers and hand. Today, such an excision is not performed at the point of transition into the muscle, as was proposed in the original version, but near the area of attachment of the tendon to the bone itself.
To restore or improve regional blood circulation;
It should be noted that the development of external epicondylitis occurs most often. This disease is considered one of the most common in the area of the musculoskeletal system.As a rule, pain occurs when the forearm is extended and rotated outward. A characteristic feature of epicondylitis is the absence of pain during passive hand movements (without the participation of the patient's muscular apparatus). This allows you to distinguish epicondylitis from other diseases of the elbow joint - arthritis and arthrosis.
If epicondylitis cannot be cured by conservative methods, surgical intervention can be prescribed.With the "jumper's knee", the inflammatory process is localized in the patella, pain is felt at the place of attachment of the ligaments at the bottom of the patella; basketball and volleyball players are susceptible to the development of such a pathology;
Joint injuries - shock, sprain, fall, tearing of ligaments when trying to lift or move a heavy load;
Epicondylitis is characterized by symptoms of Thomsen and Welsh. In the first case, an attempt to hold the hand clenched into a fist in the dorsiflexion position in the epicondyle of the affected limb is accompanied by acute pain, while the hand immediately drops. Identification of Thomsen's symptom involves conducting a test simultaneously on two hands.
Cryotherapy, etc.
This inflammation doesn't just happen because epicondylitis is a secondary condition. The exact causes of elbow epicondylitis are not known to doctors. Experts were able to find out which groups of people are most susceptible to this disease. These include:
The projection of pain does not fall on the joint itself, but on the lower portions of the ulna. Often the patient can point with his finger the most painful place. The process of shaking hands, lifting small weights, for example, a tea cup, causes great difficulties.
It is possible to prevent the development of epicondylitis by following some simple recommendations:
The most common (practically in one third of all professional athletes-runners) the development of "runner's knee" pain is the result of compression of the nerves that innervate the patella.
Chronic increased stress on the knees;
Welsh's symptom is the appearance of severe pain in the epicondyle zone with simultaneous extension of the forearms, which are in a bent position at the level of the chin.
Experts have different opinions about massage. Some of them believe that massage for epicondylitis is useless and even harmful.
MRI and biochemical blood tests are performed when it is necessary to differentiate epicondylitis from other diseases or injuries (fracture, tunnel syndrome, or SGS).
The specifics of professional activities;
In the case of a chronic course of this disease with frequent exacerbations and unsuccessful treatment, patients must change the nature of their work.
Prevent forearm muscle atrophy.
Agricultural workers (milkmaids, tractor drivers, handymen);
Causes and symptoms of elbow epicondylitis
Follow the rules for performing physical exercises;
In order to prescribe adequate treatment, it is necessary to carefully collect data about the patient and carry out a qualified examination. In rare cases, an X-ray examination is additionally prescribed (in order to exclude the presence of a fracture) or MRI (to confirm the diagnosis if tunnel syndrome is suspected).
Inconsistent functioning of the muscles that ensure the work of the knee joint;
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Our joints are in constant motion. Due to this, they live: it is known that the friction of the articular surfaces against each other provides nutrition to the cartilage. If something is wrong with the joint, it becomes noticeable very quickly. Joint pain is a very common problem, according to statistics, this is the first reason in the world in terms of the frequency of seeking help and the main reason for using analgesics. So doctors very often have to puzzle over: what exactly caused the "failure" of this or that joint?
The joint is not a very complex structure, but nevertheless there are plenty of reasons for the occurrence of pain in it: the articular surface can be damaged, soft tissue around, muscles or bones may ache. The joint capsule, which doctors call bursa, can also become inflamed and cause suffering. The bag surrounds the joint, isolates it from the surrounding tissues and creates a cavity in which intra-articular fluid circulates - a lubricant that ensures smooth sliding of surfaces against each other. Inflammation of this anatomical formation is called bursitis.
Bursitis is most typical for large, loaded joints with a large range of motion - shoulder, knee, elbow. For each of the joints, its own range of situations is known that provokes the development of bursitis. In ICD-10, bursitis is assigned the code 70-71.
The elbow joint is in great demand in humans. This is due to the active use of the upper limbs in Everyday life, work. The elbow joint is the second after the shoulder joint in terms of the volume of the load performed (when it comes to the upper limb).
It is natural to assume that olecranon bursitis will occur more often in those people whose joint is more overloaded. Indeed, this type of disease is more common in people of certain professions or certain occupations. These include:
Most common reasons development of bursitis of the elbow joint (Table 1)
Cause | Clinical example |
Acute injuries of the joint and periarticular bursa | Intra-articular fractures, blows to the elbow joint (especially with the occurrence of hematoma) |
Recurrent injuries and sprains of the joint and periarticular bursa | Professional sports, work with increased stress on the joint |
Metabolic disorders | Gout |
Autoimmune diseases | Rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, psoriasis |
Joint infections | Tuberculosis, rheumatism, gonorrhea, secondary post-traumatic arthritis, sepsis |
Other arthrosis and arthritis | Poisoning, hypothermia, age-related changes in the joints, deforming arthrosis |
The complexity of the structure of the elbow joint is that it is a design that can be described as "three in one". At their core, these are three different joints, enclosed in a single capsule:
Thanks to such a device in the joint, such movements are possible that provide the highest mobility of the lower parts of the upper limb: the forearm and hand.
The capsule of the elbow joint consists of two layers, or sheets, as doctors say. The inner layer provides moisture for the joint, the outer layer gives the capsule strength. The capsule covers all three joints, forming a semblance of a closed pouch.
Also of importance is the fact that in the joint cavity the capsule forms folds, partitions, as a result of which it has a complex multi-chamber structure. For example, the anterior and posterior parts of the articular cavity communicate with each other only through a narrow opening-gap between the radius and ulna. This feature is important when carrying out a puncture of the joint: for the complete removal of fluid or blood from it, it is necessary to carry out punctures in two places - in front and behind.
The capsule and ligaments in the elbow joint are very developed: for example, the most powerful of the ligaments, the internal one, can withstand a tensile load of up to 230 kg, others have a tensile strength of up to 130-160 kg.
Of all the joints, the ulnar has perhaps the highest reactivity in response to even minor injury. The reason for this is the peculiarities of its blood supply and innervation. The fact is that the main artery of the joint creates as many as three developed vascular networks in its capsules: two in the inner layer and one in the outer layer. In the folds of the articular bag, the vessels can generally form loops. Such a structure was conceived by nature for a better outflow of blood from the joint, which normally happens. But with the slightest injury to the joint capsule, its capacity for blood flow decreases - and the joint swells very quickly.
In addition, the mass of nerve endings is embedded in all layers of the articular bag. The pain that accompanies any injury or inflammation is perceived by the body as a signal of danger, and the muscles surrounding the elbow joint immediately spasm - immobilization of the elbow occurs. In this case, the spasm is pronounced and also counteracts the outflow of blood - edema develops in a very short period of time.
To be precise, there are not one, but three bags in the elbow joint. And although in essence they still form a single integral structure, from an anatomical and clinical point of view, it is better to consider them separately. These include:
Depending on which bag the inflammation begins with, bursitis of the elbow joint can manifest with various symptoms. But subsequently, as a rule, the pathological process spreads to all three bursae, and the differences in the initial clinic are simply erased.
With bursitis, there may be following symptoms and syndromes:
All these manifestations are characteristic not only of bursitis and can occur in other rheumatological and traumatological diseases - arthritis, epicondylitis, fractures and sprains, etc. Therefore, for the correct diagnosis of bursitis, it is of great importance additional methods research, as well as a correctly collected anamnesis.
The final understanding of the essence of the process helps to draw up the classification used in clinical practice... Bursitis (code 70-71 according to ICD-10) differ from each other in the following ways:
Sometimes clinical data alone are not enough to make a diagnosis of elbow bursitis. More information about the affected joint needs to be collected. In such cases, the following diagnostic procedures can be used (at the discretion of the doctor):
It is the gold standard in orthopedics, rheumatology and traumatology, which allows you to assess the structure, contours of bones, the presence or absence of fractures. On the roentgenogram, it is impossible to see soft structures - muscles, ligaments, skin, but with bursitis, this method is extremely important, since it allows you to see the absence of another, gross pathology, and thereby make the correct diagnosis.
In professional athletes, the X-ray will show changes in the bones that have been formed for a long time in response to increased stress: thickening of the bone, closure of growth zones ahead of time. In the places of attachment of the ligament to the bone, many spines (osteophytes) can be found, and in the joint cavity there are intra-articular bodies, in everyday life referred to as "articular mice".
Most characteristic feature An "athlete's joint" is the detection of a spur on the inside of the joint. This spur can reach large sizes and sometimes even break. In this case, bursitis of the elbow joint takes a very long time, is difficult to treat and requires surgical intervention.
If bursitis has arisen against the background of a rheumatological disease, then it is always accompanied by damage to the cartilaginous tissue. On the roentgenogram, this is manifested by the jaggedness of the articular surface (usuration).
If the symptoms of the disease are caused not by bursitis, but by a fracture, then the latter is easily determined on an x-ray image.
Allows you to see foreign bodies in the joint cavity that are invisible on a conventional X-ray. The method is an X-ray after the injection of a special contrast agent into the joint with or without air. The resulting image also allows you to obtain information about the condition of the articular surfaces, to determine the optimal place for a joint puncture (if necessary), to trace the contours of the ligaments and joint capsules.
The study is widely used in traumatology and rheumatology, allowing high accuracy to identify tumors, assess mineral metabolism and the degree of maturity of bone outgrowths - thorns. Chronic and recurrent bursitis of the elbow joint is the most frequent indication for radionuclide diagnostics, it allows you to establish the cause of such a long course of this disease and choose the right treatment tactics. But in connection with the emergence of simpler and no less informative methods, the indications for the use of this study are currently narrowed.
Ultrasonography is one of the most important non-traumatic research methods that allows you to see the contents of the joint capsule and assess the condition of the soft tissues located around the joint. This is precisely its main importance, since ultrasound very poorly "shows" the state of the cartilaginous and bone surfaces.
Currently, five approaches are known, from which a joint examination can be performed. In addition, there are five pathological conditions that can be detected during ultrasound. These include:
Thus, the role of ultrasound of the joints increases significantly when it is necessary to carry out a differentiated diagnosis between these conditions. This is a very urgent task for sports medicine, as well as in the treatment of occupational diseases of the joints.
In some cases, patients have recurrent swelling and restriction of movement in the elbow joint, discomfort or pain in it, but it is not possible to identify the cause of these symptoms using specific methods. In such situations, CT or MRI is indicated. These methods are not equivalent: computed tomography allows you to track the state of hard tissues - bones, cartilage, and magnetic resonance imaging - soft: cartilage, bursae and ligaments.
CT and MRI can help solve the most difficult diagnostic situations. The need for their use usually arises in the chronic or recurrent course of the disease, and also allows you to identify the consequences of bursitis of the elbow joint.
The method is unique in its own way: on the one hand, it allows you to qualitatively examine the joint cavity, and on the other hand, to immediately carry out medical manipulations, if in the process of research they become necessary. In essence, arthroscopy is a surgical operation.
Indications for arthroscopy:
Contraindications to arthroscopy:
The technique of arthroscopy is as follows: after preliminary marking (see figure), local anesthesia of the puncture area is performed, and then the puncture itself. In connection with the above anatomical features to conduct a full examination of the elbow joint cavity, it is necessary to enter it from three different approaches. An examination of the articular surfaces and the articular bag is carried out, after which the pathology that caused the bursitis is determined, and the second part of the procedure is carried out - to the therapeutic actions. Arthroscopy allows you to do the following:
There are a number of diseases that are very similar to elbow bursitis - arthritis, epicondylitis, and arthrosis.
Despite the general clinical similarity, all these conditions have fundamental differences in treatment tactics. The table shows a number of signs that make it possible to differentiate diseases from each other.
Sign | Bursitis | Arthritis | Epicondylitis | Arthrosis |
Causal disease | Trauma, systemic disease | Occupational hazards, sports | Age, chronic trauma. | |
The nature of the flow | Acute or chronic with clear exacerbations | Spicy | Chronic | Chronic |
Pain | Moderate or weak, rarely strong (with the development of complications) | Strong or moderate, rarely weak | Weak to moderate | Weak to moderate |
Edema | Leading symptom, very pronounced | Expressed | Not expressed | Not expressed |
Redness, increased local temperature | Expressed | Missing | Missing | |
Fever, intoxication | Rarely, only in the presence of complications | Moderate or strong | Missing | Missing |
Joint movements | Reduced | Dramatically reduced | Slow | Reduced |
The rate at which symptoms develop | Moderate to high | High | Slow | From several months to several years |
Elbow bursitis is treated in different ways, depending on the cause of its occurrence. However, there is general principles providing assistance with this pathology:
Local anti-inflammatory drugs are used in the absence of accumulation of a large amount of fluid in the joint, mild pain syndrome. Dosage form- gel or ointment (Diclofenac, Dolobene, Indomethacin, Voltaren).
In the acute stage, ointments that enhance blood flow to the joint are contraindicated - Vishnevsky's ointment, Finalgon, Fastum gel, etc., since they significantly increase edema.
NSAIDs in tablets are used for any severity of bursitis. If you need to get a quick effect or there are stomach diseases in which tablets are contraindicated, ampouled drugs are prescribed. There are a great many drugs from this group, but those that have a predominantly anti-inflammatory effect have the greatest effect. These include:
Paracetamol, coxibs, dexketoprofen, ketorolac, aspirin, ksefokam are significantly inferior to them in effectiveness. Any NSAID cannot be used for a long time.
Antibiotics are contraindicated in most cases for bursitis.
In this case, antibiotics from the group of penicillins or cephalosporins are used, less often - drugs from other groups ("Ampicillin", "Amoxiclav", "Augmentin", "Vilprafen", "Sumamed", "Ceftriaxone", "Ceftazidim", "Cefoperazone", " Cefepim "and others).
In the event of a sports injury, assistance is provided by a sports doctor, and in his absence - by a traumatologist. The surgeon deals with complicated forms of bursitis, namely, purulent ones. In large cities, for the treatment of complicated forms of infectious diseases of the joints, there are specialized departments- purulent orthopedics, tuberculosis of bones and joints, etc. If bursitis has arisen against the background of rheumatological diseases, it should be treated by a rheumatologist. An ambulance doctor should take urgent measures in case of severe pain syndrome. It is necessary to treat complicated bursitis only in a hospital.
Summing up, we can say that bursitis of the elbow joint is a heterogeneous concept. Sometimes bursitis is an independent disease, sometimes it can be just one of the symptoms of another disease. A clear understanding of the mechanisms of origin of bursitis is the main condition for its successful treatment. Given the variety of reasons that cause it, carrying out a full diagnostic search for bursitis is the prerogative of an orthopedic surgeon or rheumatologist.
Sources:
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Hemarthrosis is a disease manifested by hemorrhage into the inner cavity of the joint capsule. This condition can occur as a result of traumatic exposure or if the patient has poor blood clotting.
Hemarthrosis of the knee joint most often develops due to injury. As a result of the hemorrhage that has occurred, the pressure of the articular fluid inside the joint increases.
Due to the complexity of the structure of the knee, elbow and ankle joints, the blood accumulation does not dissolve quickly. Such a pathology requires medical intervention and special therapy.
Description of hemarthrosis of the knee, elbow and ankle joint is included in international directory classification of diseases. It brings together all the diagnostic information. In ICD 10, hemarthrosis has the code M25.0.
Codes are necessary for storing information data and for the convenience of their processing. The diagnostic and clinical terminology used in the Russian version of the medical handbook is consistent with domestic practice.
Hemarthrosis of the knee, elbow or ankle joint can develop as a result of various injuries:
The symptoms of the disease are more pronounced in children. Therefore, immediately after the injury, the child should be shown to a doctor. Traumatic hemarthrosis of the knee, elbow or ankle joint is characterized by the presence of a certain clinical picture:
Symptoms of post-traumatic hemarthrosis of the ankle, knee and elbow joint develop in 1.5-2 hours.
Important! To prevent hemarthrosis, people should, if possible, try to avoid traumatic situations, wear fixing bandages, and treat chronic diseases in a timely manner.
To prescribe adequate treatment, the doctor must be sure of the correctness of the diagnosis. To do this, appoint:
In order to exclude infectious inflammation, arthritis and to determine the signs of hemarthrosis, a puncture of the cavity of the articular bag is performed. The presence in the blood test indicates the presence of hemarthrosis of the ankle, knee or any other joint.
Note! Chronic hemarthrosis of the knee joint is a very dangerous disease. Untimely treatment of pathology threatens the patient with multiple complications.
Treatment of the disease consists in removing blood exudate from the articular cavity. After that, the capsule is washed with saline and medications are injected into the cavity to eliminate bleeding, inflammation and pain.
Hemarthrosis in the primary stage is fairly easy to treat. The treatment procedure is carried out under local anesthesia, in the following order:
This procedure can be performed several times.
With the puncture method, hemarthrosis of the knee joint can be cured in three weeks. If the hemorrhage into the articular cavity is repeated, degenerative changes occur. Therefore, it is much more difficult to cure secondary hemarthrosis. If the disease reappears, another method is chosen for the operation:
When using this technology, the risk of recurrent bleeding is significantly reduced, so the disease can be cured in one procedure. With mild bleeding, the joint fluid dissolves on its own and does not require surgery. In such a situation, the symptoms of hemarthrosis of the knee or ankle joint can be eliminated with folk remedies.
You can use absorbent compresses (arnica and wormwood herbs, clay), take anti-inflammatory infusions (nettle, yarrow), pain relieving honey ointments. After an injury, the limbs must be completely at rest, the leg or arm must be in an elevated state.
Cold should be applied to the area of the injured joint for two days. The load on the diseased joint must be limited.
If the cause of hemarthrosis of the joint is hemophilia, the pathology can be latent for a long time. Cartilage tissue is destroyed by blood clots, it undergoes fibrotic changes that lead to inflammatory processes. Hemarthrosis gradually disrupts the work of the ligaments, which is the reason for the rapid loss of joint functionality.
Hemophilia can cause serious joint problems even with minor injuries. Hemarthrosis in patients with hemophilia can occur suddenly. In order to reduce blood loss, treatment of such patients should be started immediately.
Symptoms of the disease after its treatment do not disappear immediately, but gradually. Therefore, diarthrosis should be in a state of maximum rest.
Hemophilic hemarthrosis is treated only in a hospital setting. The risk of degenerative changes in cartilaginous tissues is the main danger of circulatory disorders arising from injuries. Osteoarthritis, the causes of which are associated with scar tissue on the surface of the joint, progresses very quickly.
If the correct treatment is not started on time, joint hemarthrosis can become chronic. Due to the constant presence of blood in the articular cavity, inflammation develops.
There is a high likelihood of developing bursitis, arthritis, or purulent synovitis. With neglect or chronic course of hemarthrosis, there may be a need for arthroplasty, replacement of the knee joint. The entire recovery period, the patient should be under medical supervision.
A caring attitude to your health will allow you to avoid post-traumatic complications and quickly restore the full functioning of the joint.
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A prolonged inflammatory process affecting the synovial membrane of the knee joint is defined as chronic synovitis of the knee or knee joint. The disease is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the capsule, an increase in the volume of the joint. This brings discomfort to the patient, disrupts the motor function in the joint, and causes pain.
After the removal of acute symptoms, treatment of synovitis of the knee joint is carried out at home. To do this, follow the doctor's recommendations, reduce the load on the knee, perform exercises, and avoid injuries. The pathology often affects the joints of the knees. This is due to the constant increased stress on the large joints. Synovitis can also be diagnosed in a child. It is most often caused by trauma or a recent infectious disease.
According to the international classifier of diseases of pathology, the code M65 is assigned and is interpreted as synovitis and tenosynovitis. When attaching a bacterial agent, add the code B95, B96. The microbial code M65.9 is suitable for the classification of synovitis of unspecified etiology.
Chronic synovitis is often a consequence of other pathologies and has a wavy nature of the course, that is, the acute period is replaced by remission. The factors causing the disease are considered:
In addition, the reasons for the development of knee synovitis can be allergies, endocrine pathologies, violation metabolic processes in organism. Inflammation occurs due to the spread of pathogenic microorganisms with the flow of blood or lymph. The course of the disease is aggravated by degenerative changes in the cartilage tissue occurring in the knee joint.
There is a classification of synovitis, depending on the causes that caused it and the clinical picture.
Symptoms of chronic synovitis form a syndrome characteristic of other joint diseases:
To know how to properly treat a disease, you need to carry out a distinctive diagnosis and exclude other diseases.
In order to determine the treatment, you need to make an accurate diagnosis. In addition to examining and palpating the damaged joint, the patient is offered to undergo diagnostic procedures.
This technique includes instrumental and laboratory studies.
The patient must be general analysis blood with the definition:
If there is a suspicion of blood poisoning, a bacterial culture is done.
If symptoms of synovitis appear, you should consult an orthopedist. He will examine the patient, collect anamnesis and prescribe additional diagnostic methods. After receiving the research results, treatment is prescribed. If there are concomitant diseases, then a consultation of narrow specialists is appointed.
Therapeutic procedures are aimed at reducing inflammation, relieving puffiness, pain syndrome, as well as treating the underlying disease that provokes synovitis (if any). There are certain stages in the treatment of this disease.
Puncture of the joint is performed if exudate is collected in the capsule. The procedure does not require anesthesia. A thin needle is inserted into the joint cavity and fluid is removed from there. After that, an antibiotic is injected into the joint capsule. The agent is administered even if the infectious factor is absent. This is done as a preventive measure.
Joint immobilization. The manipulation is carried out to relieve the load on the joint and is performed by applying a tight bandage, knee pad or special knee cuts. It is not necessary to completely limit the mobility of the joint, since complete immobilization is harmful and leads to the development of contractures. The bandage is applied for no more than one week.
To relieve inflammation, drugs of the NSAID group are prescribed. These are non-steroidal drugs that have a triple effect: they relieve inflammation, relieve pain, and have an antipyretic effect. They are widely used to treat pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. The drugs of choice are Diclofenac, Movalis, Naklofen. This drug group has a big disadvantage - they negatively affect the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, they can be used in the form of injections or ointments (Voltaren).
Chronic inflammation leads to damage to the deep layers of the shell of the articular bag. With this pathology, anti-lytic enzymes are prescribed (Kontrikal, Gordox).
To improve blood circulation in the damaged joint, derivatives are prescribed nicotinic acid, Trental, ATF.
With a severe course of the disease, corticosteroids are injected directly into the joint capsule (Dexamethasone). If laboratory tests have confirmed the presence of an infectious factor, then antibiotic therapy is prescribed.
Lack of efficiency conservative treatment is the reason for surgical intervention.
Physiotherapy for synovitis can reduce the inflammatory process, relieve pain, help reduce the amount of exudate, and restore the synovium. These procedures include:
These procedures help restore joint mobility and reduce pain and swelling.
If drug treatment does not help, then arthroscopy is performed (the inner surface of the capsule is treated with drugs). In case of severe deformation of the joint capsule, its complete or partial removal is carried out.
Physical education with synovitis is aimed at preventing recurrence of the disease. The complex is developed by an exercise therapy doctor and performed by patients at home. Exercises are done only after the removal of acute symptoms. The set of exercises is aimed at restoring joint mobility.
Ointments. Treatment of chronic synovitis of the knee joint at home is carried out with ointments Diclofenac, Voltaren, Indomethacin. You can make your own remedy from dry mustard, paraffin and salt. The ingredients are heated and made into an ointment.
Leeches. The method helps to relieve swelling, inflammation, increase general immunity, and prevent relapses.
Traditional methods. Treatment folk methods can not be carried out on its own., since the use of herbs can alleviate the symptoms, but will not cure completely. Therefore, one should resort to prescriptions from healers only after consulting a doctor. Positive feedback on comfrey-based ointment. For cooking, take in equal proportions the root of the plant and not salted fat, mix and the product is ready.
Treatment at home. At home, rubbing with ointments is carried out, application folk ways(compresses, decoctions, infusions), exercise, weight correction (for obesity).
Terms of treatment: there is no exact period of therapy. It all depends on the severity of the disease, the patient's condition, aggravating pathologies, the reasons that provoked the disease.
Symptoms of synovitis in children are the same as in adults. Therefore, the treatment methods are similar.
It should be noted that many medicines are not suitable for babies, so the doctor selects drugs approved by pediatricians. Surgical treatment is carried out as a last resort.
To be exempt from military service, it is necessary that knee-joint functioned poorly. If the pathology is chronic in nature, then the commission considers the issue of postponement for the treatment of the joint.
In order to prevent the development of the disease, you need to monitor your condition, do not ignore the first symptoms and carry out qualified treatment. In this case, the risk of complications is minimized as much as possible, and the prognosis will be favorable.
Chronic synovitis is not dangerous disease but not correct treatment, ignoring medical recommendations, it can cause pathological changes in the joint, which will lead to limited mobility, disability.
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Therapeutic tactics depend on the duration of the disease, the severity of clinical symptoms and the causes of tendon overload. With fresh epicondylitis with a mild pain syndrome, it is sometimes sufficient to prescribe a protective mode, in which certain movements of the limb are excluded. If epicondylitis occurs as a result of occupational overload, the patient is issued a sick leave. If sports are the reason for the development of the disease, it is recommended to temporarily stop training. After the pain disappears, the load is gradually increased.
To prevent relapse, it is necessary to establish what caused the muscle overload. Patients are advised to pay attention to the technique of performing stereotyped movements, use other tools, regularly pause during work, review the training regimen. Sometimes the above measures are enough to eliminate the symptoms of the disease and prevent relapses. With inefficiency this method, as well as with an intense pain syndrome and a protracted course of epicondylitis, more active treatment is needed.
The arm is provided with complete rest by applying a splint and hanging the limb on a kerchief. After pain relief, the plaster cast is removed, patients are advised to use NSAIDs local action... NSAIDs in tablets are usually not prescribed because the risk of side effects (irritation of the stomach wall) outweighs the potential of anti-inflammatory therapy. With persistent sharp pains, blockade of the affected area is carried out with solutions of glucocorticosteroids.
The best option for epicondylitis is blockade with betamethasone, since this drug does not cause an increase in pain immediately after blockade and does not provoke degenerative changes in tissues at the injection site. Betamethasone can be replaced with methylprednisolone or hydrocortisone, however, in this case, the patient must be warned that the pain will intensify on the first day after the blockade, and only then relief will come. The use of triamcinolone for epicondylitis is contraindicated, since it medicine when administered subcutaneously, it can cause a violation of skin pigmentation and the formation of adhesions between the skin and underlying tissues (in this case, the surface of the condyle of the humerus).
The prognosis for epicondylitis of the elbow joint is favorable. Rest and the use of local NSAIDs can completely eliminate the pain syndrome in 2-3 weeks. With the introduction of glucocorticosteroid drugs, pain disappears within 2-3 days. In some cases, there is a persistent course with frequent exacerbations and low effectiveness of therapy. Usually the cause is congenital failure connective tissue... In such patients, joint hypermobility is revealed, and epicondylitis is often bilateral in nature. The best option in such cases is a constant gentle mode and an individual selection of tolerable loads (possibly with a change in specialty or refusal to go in for sports).