Radial Tunnel Syndrome: An Etiology of Chronic Lateral Elbow Pain

Abstract

Lateral elbow pain is common in athletic and nonathletic populations. Radial tunnel syndrome (RTS) is an infrequent condition that may produce symptoms similar to tennis elbow. However, RTS is distinguished from tennis elbow in that the symptoms are present more than six months and resistant to conservative treatment. Furthermore, three pathognomomic signs indicate RTS: 1) tenderness when palpating the radial tunnel anterior to the neck of the radius, 2) reproduction of symptoms with resisted supination, and 3) resisted extension of the middle finger. The purpose of this article is to review the literature regarding the symptomatology, pathophysiology, and treatment of RTS so clinicians can distinguish RJS from tennis elbow. Both conditions present similar symptoms; however, clinicians should be able to distinguish between them in order to achieve successful pain relief from lateral elbow pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1991;14(1):14-17.