European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Aims and objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of Patients with Chronic Lateral Epicondylitis and investigate whether there is a potential relationship between MRI abnormalities of the common extensor tendon (CET) and its clinical symptom.
Material and Methods: A randomized study was conducted in the Department Malla Reddy Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India for the period of 1 year. The study group comprised 120 consecutive patients (80 men and 40 women) with a clinical diagnosis of chronic lateral epicondylitis, which were examined on 1.5 T MR. an MRI scoring system was used to grade the degree of tendinopahty. Clinical symptoms were assessed using the Patient Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE).
Results: Total 120 elbows had MRI assessed tendinopathy, that includes 50 (41.67%) with grade 1, 37 (30.83%) with grade 2, and 33 (27.5%) with grade 3. The average intra-observer agreement for grading the severity of tendinopathy was 79.17%. The median PRTEE score of all patients was 76 (range 8-98), the median PRTEE score of tendinopathy score 1 was 28, the median PRTEE score of tendinopathy score 2 was 54, and the median PRTEE score of tendinopathy score 3 was 98. The PRTEE scores were gradually increased with the tendinopathy scores. A significant positive correlation exist between tendinopathy scores and PRTEE scores (correlation coefficient r ¼ 0.945, P < 0.01).
Conclusion: MRI is a reliable tool in determining radiological severity of chronical lateral epicondylitis. The severity of MR signals changes positively correlate with the patient’s clinical symptom.