Clinical trial: Relationships Between Ultrasound Data and the Impact of Lateral Epicondylar Pain (NCT01390454)

Eligibility criteria:
Inclusion Criteria for Tennis Elbow patients:

          -  The patient must have given his/her informed and signed consent

          -  The patient must be insured or beneficiary of a health insurance plan

          -  The patient is available for 90 days of follow up

          -  Pain when pressure applied to the epicondyl

          -  Pain upon forced movement of both epicondylien muscles

          -  Absence of pain upon forced movement of an epitrochlear muscle

          -  Absence of one or more skeletal-muscle problem on the homolateral arm felt by the
             patient to be just as problematic as his/her tennis elbow

          -  at least one consult for pain treatment associated with tennis elbow (on the same
             elbow)

        Inclusion Criteria for healthy volunteers:

          -  The patient must have given his/her informed and signed consent

          -  The patient must be insured or beneficiary of a health insurance plan

          -  No pain when pressure applied to the epicondyl

          -  No pain upon forced movement of both epicondylien muscles

          -  No neck pain

          -  No skeletal-muscle problems in the arms during the 3 months preceding the study

        Exclusion Criteria for Tennis Elbow patients:

          -  The patient is included in another study

          -  The patient is in an exclusion period determined by a previous study

          -  The patient is under judicial protection, under tutorship or curatorship

          -  The patient refuses to sign the consent

          -  It is impossible to correctly inform the patient

          -  The patient is pregnant

          -  The patient is breastfeeding

          -  Absence of one or more skeletal-muscle problem on the homolateral arm felt by the
             patient to be just as problematic as his/her tennis elbow

        Exclusion Criteria for Health Volunteers:

          -  The subject is included in another study

          -  The subject is in an exclusion period determined by a previous study

          -  The subject is under judicial protection, under tutorship or curatorship

          -  The subject refuses to sign the consent

          -  It is impossible to correctly inform the subject

          -  Presence of one or more skeletal-muscle problems in the arms within the 3 months
             preceding the study

          -  Pain when pressure applied to the epicondyl

          -  Pain upon forced movement of both epicondylien muscles

          -  Consultation for any kind of treatment for elbow pain
No condition on gender to be admitted to the trial.
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Subject must be at least 18 Years old.


Patient description (medical language): A 17-year-old male comes to the office due to several months of right elbow pain.  The pain is worse with activity and limits his workouts and activities.  He has tried over-the-counter medications with limited relief.  Medical history is notable for eczema, and current medications include a topical hydrocortisone ointment.  He is sexually active with his girlfriend and uses condoms. He does not smoke or drink alcohol. He plays tennis most of the days of the week. The comprehensive evaluation shows pain on the lateral side of the elbow, made worse by pressure applied on the lateral epicondyle of the humerus and when making a fist with the elbow joint straightened. The patient has this pain since last year and had several courses of physical therapy.

Patient description (patient's own words): I'm 17, and I had to go to the doctor because I've been suffering from my right elbow for several months. The pain is even worse when I do sports and it kind of limits me for my workouts and activities. I tried over-the-counter medications but it didn't work much. I had eczema before and my medication is ointments that contain cortisone. I am sexually active as a 17-year-old guy, and I have a girlfriend, and we use condoms. I don't smoke or drink. I play tennis most days of the week. I did an exam that showed pain on the side of my elbow and it was worse when they applied some pressure on it and when I was putting my hand as a fist. I have had this pain since last year, and I had several sessions of physical therapy already.

Does the patient match the trial criteria? Contradiction