Lateral elbow pain syndrome and entrapment of the radial nerve.

Lateral elbow pain syndrome is probably a fairly common condition and known to be resistant to conservative treatments. It is suggested that this syndrome is caused by entrapment of the radial nerve. Thirty patients with lateral elbow pain syndrome, in which entrapment of the radial nerve was diagnosed, have been operated upon to release the radial nerve at the elbow. There were 9 men and 21 women. Their age ranged from 17 to 64 with an average of 42.5. Twenty one of thirty nerves were entraped by the arcade of Frohse or other soft tissues. Nine nerves were adherent to the tissues overlying the radial head. Follow-up has been from six months to two years and eight months. Postoperative results were excellent in 16 patients, good in 11, fair in two and poor in one. These results would indicate that entrapment of the radial nerve at the elbow is considered as a cause of lateral elbow pain syndrome.