Patient-related risk factors for requiring surgical intervention following a failed injection for the treatment of medial and lateral epicondylitis.

OBJECTIVES: To identify risk factors for failure of a therapeutic injection leading to operative management of both medial and lateral epicondylitis. METHODS: A national database was used to query Medicare Standard Analytic Files from 2005-2012 for patients treated with therapeutic injections for medial or lateral epicondylitis using CPT codes for injections associated with corresponding ICD-9 diagnostic codes (726.31 and 726.32, respectively). Those who subsequently underwent surgical treatment following injection were identified. A multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis was utilized to evaluate patient-related risk factors for requiring surgery within 2 years after therapeutic injection. RESULTS: 1,837 patients received therapeutic injections for medial epicondylitis. 52 (2.8%) required ipsilateral surgery at a mean of 429 ± 28 days post-injection. Risk factors for requiring surgical intervention included age <65, obesity, and morbid obesity. 6,561 patients received therapeutic injections for lateral epicondylitis. 201 (3.1%) required subsequent surgery at a mean of 383 ± 128 days' post-injection. Risk factors included age <65, tobacco use, diabetes mellitus and peripheral vascular disease. CONCLUSION: The incidence of surgical intervention following a failed therapeutic injection for medial or lateral epicondylitis is low (~3%). Risk factors for failing a therapeutic injection include age <65 years and obesity (BMI > 30) for medial epicondylitis and age <65 years, smoking, diabetes mellitus and peripheral vascular disease for lateral epicondylitis. Patients with these identified risk factors presenting with medial or lateral epicondylitis should be cautioned that they carry a higher risk of subsequent surgical treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Ultrasound-Guided Elbow Procedures.

High-resolution ultrasonography can help clinicians visualize key anatomic structures of the elbow and guide periarticular and intra-articular injections. Historically, most procedures done around the elbow have been done using landmark guidance, and few studies have reported the accuracy of ultrasonography-guided injections in the elbow region. This article reviews common musculoskeletal disorders about the elbow that can be evaluated with ultrasonography, reviews the literature on ultrasonography-guided injections of the elbow region, and describes the senior author's preferred approach for the most commonly performed elbow region injections.