Which term is another name for tennis elbow?

• A. Medial epicondylitis
• B. Lateral epicondylitis
• C. Olecranon bursitis
• D. Cubital tunnel syndrome

Answer: (B)

Tennis elbow is caused by overuse of the wrist extensor tendons at the outer elbow, a condition known as lateral epicondylitis. The tendons that lift and move the wrist attach at the lateral epicondyle of the humerus, and repetitive gripping or wrist extension—common in tennis and similar activities—leads to tendinopathy and pain at that outer elbow site. You’ll often see pain with resisted wrist extension and pain when palpating the outside of the elbow.

In contrast, medial epicondylitis, or golfer’s elbow, involves degeneration at the inner elbow where the wrist flexor muscles attach, causing pain on the inside of the elbow with wrist flexion. Olecranon bursitis is swelling over the bursa at the tip of the elbow, presenting as painless or painful swelling, sometimes after a fall or prolonged pressure. Cubital tunnel syndrome is ulnar nerve compression at the elbow, causing numbness or tingling in the ring and little fingers and sometimes hand weakness.