Lateral Elbow Pain

The diagnosis of lateral elbow pain can be challenging to the examiner, due to the large number of diagnoses that are geographically located in this region. The lateral elbow can be defined proximally by the lateral aspect of the distal third humerus, distally by the proximal radius (head, neck, and bicipital tuberosity), anteriorly by the lateral trochlea ridge, and posteriorly by the crista supinatoris of the ulna. Of the many pathologies that exist in this region, the common differential diagnoses include lateral epicondylitis, radial/posterior plica impingement, osteoarthritis, loose bodies, fractures, rheumatoid arthritis, instability, and radial nerve entrapment [2, 11].