[Radiotherapy of epicondylopathy of the humerus].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of radiotherapy in alleviating pain at rest and on exercise in tennis elbow (humeral epicondylitis).


METHODS
45 elbow joints in 41 patients were radiated with a telecobalt unit in six sessions at a dose of 1.0 Gy each spread over 3 weeks. Indication for this treatment was pain in the elbow joint at rest, on pressure and on exercise. The patients were re-assessed after a mean follow-up period of 7.5 weeks. They were graded into one of five groups on the basis of their own assessment. Pain on exercise was determined by the Thompson hand-grip, chair test, forced extension and middle-finger stretch test.


RESULTS
Satisfactory analgesia was achieved in 31 of 45 elbow joints (68.9%). About 50% of patients still had objectifiable pain on exercise.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiotherapy is a highly efficacious means of pain alleviation in tennis elbow, but the results are better for pain at rest than on exercise. The Thompson hand-grip and chair test, positive in more than 90% of patients, proved to be reliable criteria to assess the indications for radiotherapy and its results.
Heyd
R
R
Abteilung für Strahlentherapie und Onkologie, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität Frankfurt/Main.
Schopohl
B
B
Kirchner
J
J
Strassmann
G
G
Böttcher
H D
HD
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011867:Radioisotope Teletherapy; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012074:Remission Induction; D013716:Tennis Elbow / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy*
D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes
Strahlentherapie der Epicondylopathia humeri.