[Epicondylalgia, diagnosis and treatment A review of a series of 31 surgically treated cases].

Thirty-one of lateral elbow pain have been reviewed, with an average follow-up of 32.4 months after surgery. The necessity of an adequate surgical procedure for each cause is confirmed. The etiology are: epicondylitis, posterior interosseous nerve entrapment and humero-radial articular pathology. We tried to define a correspondence between etiology and clinical examination. For type I (pain by palpation on lateral epicondyle = tendinitis) and for type II (isolated pain on the head of the radius = nerve entrapment) the correlation is good with operative findings. In contrary there is a correspondence in type III (regional pain with irradiation) only for 50% of the cases. Specific surgical technique is employed for each supposed cause. The results at follow-up are good for 87% of the patients (27 cases) and failed in two. These two cases can be explained: by multiple surgery, psychologic context and inadaptation of the work for full activity. The value electrophysiological examination before operation is examined.