Case study: Golfer’s elbow – Injection

A 33-year-old woman has been experiencing pain in her right medial elbow for the past year, which began after a minor injury. Despite undergoing conservative treatment, including physical therapy and NSAIDs, her condition did not improve. She continues to have debilitating pain.

Physical examination

• No redness or edema
• Tenderness over the medial epicondyle
• Polk’s test: Positive

Ultrasound findings

• Minimal tears in the common flexor tendon at the insertion point onto the medial epicondyle.

Long axis view of the common flexor tendon and medial epicondyle. Note the tears at the insertion point.

• Small effusion in the anterior joint recess of the elbow.

Long axis view of the posterior elbow revealing a small effusion in the anterior joint recess.

Diagnosis

The patient was diagnosed with medial epicondylitis, also known as golfer’s elbow, which is characterized by chronic tendinosis of the wrist flexors and pronators that anchor to the medial epicondyle. The condition commonly develops due to repetitive movements involving pronation of the forearm or flexion of the wrist.

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