ABSTRACT
Elbow problems typically present with pain following injury or after repetitive use. The elbow is a synovial, hinge joint, incorporating the proximal radioulnar joint. A history of previous injuries, often as a child, may be important as these injuries can result in residual deformity or acquired deformity through growth disturbance. Examination begins with inspection, though this may be unremarkable. Specific tests may be indicated depending on the suspicions raised by the history and initial examination. Ultrasound is widely available and is the investigation of choice for tendon-related problems. Chronic or overuse elbow pain can be approached based on anatomical structures, considering lateral, medial, anterior and posterior areas. Lateral elbow tendinopathy provides a better description for the term tennis elbow, though this is widely understood by patients and clinicians alike. Medial elbow tendinopathy has many features in keeping with lateral elbow tendinopathy, though it is 10 times less common. The triceps tendon is the main posterior structure at the elbow.
