ABSTRACT:

OBJECTIVE To verify if the subjective elbow value (SEV) scale presents similar results to those of the Patient-rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) scale in the evaluation of patients with lateral elbow epicondylitis (LEE).
METHODS Thirty-seven patients were diagnosed with LEE in the outpatient service of our hospital through clinical history, physical examination, X-ray, and ultrasonography. The SEV and PRTEE scales were used and their results were compared using a significance level ≥ 5% (p ≥0.05).
RESULTS A statistically significant relationship was found between the values of SEV and PRTEE in the group of patients studied (p = 0.017).
CONCLUSION Subjective elbow value presented similar results to PRTEE in the evaluation of patients with diagnosis of LEE.

Keywords: elbow; tendons; ultrasonography; physical examination; tennis elbow.

RESUMO:

OBJETIVO Avaliar se a aplicação das escalas subjective elbow value (SEV) e Patient-rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) apresentam resultados similares na avaliação de pacientes com epicondilite lateral do cotovelo.
MÉTODOS Trinta e sete indivíduos com diagnostic de epicondilite lateral do cotovelo foram avaliados no ambulatório de cirurgia do ombro e cotovelo do nosso hospital. O diagnóstico foi realizado com a história clínica da patologia, exame físico, raio-x, e ultrassonográfia. Foram utilizadas as escalas SEV e PRTEE, e os resultados foram comparados estatisticamente, usando-se como nível de significância 5% (p ≥ 0,05).
RESULTADOS Encontramos uma relação estatisticamente significante entre os valores obtidos pelas escalas SEV e PRTEE quando aplicadas no grupo de pacientes portadores de epicondilite lateral (p = 0,017).
CONCLUSÃO Subjective elbow value apresentou resultados similares ao PRTEE na avaliação de pacientes com diagnóstico de epicondilite lateral do cotovelo.

Palavras-chave: cotovelo; tendões; ultrassonografia; exame físico; cotovelo de tenista.

FIGURES

Citation: Ikemoto RY, Almeida LHO, Motta GGB, Kim ASM, Lial CVN, Claros JJ. Comparative Study between Scales: Subjective Elbow Value and Patient-rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation Applied to Patients Affected by Lateral Epicondylitis. 55(5):564. doi:10.1055/s-0039-3402465
Conflicts of Interest The authors have no conflict of interests to declare.
Received: February 01 2018; Accepted: March 28 2019
 

INTRODUCTION

Lateral elbow epicondylitis (LEE) is an orthopedic condition affecting the tendon of the extensor digitorum communis muscle. It is a very frequent condition, presenting with tendon degeneration and pain in the lateral region of the elbow.1 The incidence of LEE is roughly 4/1,000 people per year, affecting a wide variety of workers and athletes who perform repetitive elbow and wrist movements. Its peak incidence is from the 4th to the 6th decades of life.2

Despite being called “tennis elbow”, LEE affects a large number of workers, ranging from office to industrial production line workers. In a study conducted in Washington, USA, between 1987 and 1995, LEE accounted for 11.7% of work-related injury complaints.3

The pathophysiology of LEE is not fully understood. Histopathological changes observed in the tendon include increased fibroblast concentration, vascular hyperplasia, and collagen fiber disorganization; as such, the condition can be defined as an elbow tendinopathy.2

Ultrasound (US) is the diagnostic method of choice to confirm LEE diagnosis, associated with physical examination and clinical history findings.3

The treatment of LEE remains challenging, with a high rate of poor outcomes.2 Despite being a relatively common condition, there is little scientific evidence to support an algorithm for LEE treatment.4-6

The evaluation of LEE treatment outcomes is also challenging. There are several scales for elbow function analysis, such as: the Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS), disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) and upper extremity function scale (UEFS). These scales not only evaluate LEE-associated painful symptoms and associated functional loss, but also various trauma-related factors, such as stiffness and instability. As such, score values are increased, generating a false impression of discrete elbow involvement in LEE because the limiting factor for elbow functionality in this condition is pain with preserved range of motion and joint stability.7-10

The Patient-rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) scale was developed by MacDemid7 and other authors8,9, in 1999, specifically to evaluate LEE cases. In 2005, it was modified to its current model by the same group of researchers. The PRTEE consists of 15 items, which are subdivided into 2 parts; the 1st part contains 5 items assessing pain, ranging from 0 to 10 according to pain intensity, whereas the second part has 10 items assessing elbow function in daily activities, in which 0 indicates total capacity and 10 refers to total incapacity. Results from the second part are divided by two and added to the results from the first part; the total score ranges from 0, indicating no involvement, to 100 points, referring to the maximum degree of limb involvement by LEE10,11(Figure 1).

Fig. 1. Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) scale.

Subjective elbow value (SEV) is a single numerical value obtained by asking the patient the percentage of impaired functional activity in the affected elbow that can range from 0 to 100; in which 100 corresponds to an elbow with normal function and 0 to an elbow with total inability to perform daily routine and professional activities.11

The present study intended to verify if the SEV scale presented similar results to those of the PRTEE scale for the evaluation of patients with untreated LEE.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was conducted from July 2016 to March 2017. In total, 53 patients were evaluated at the shoulder and elbow outpatient facility with a diagnostic hypothesis of LEE; 37 subjects met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for this study (Table 1).

Table 1. Patients list
PATIENTS AGE GENDER OCCUPATION AFFECTED SIDE ROM COZEN/MILLS/ GARDNER PRTEE SEV
          (F/E; P/S)*      
01 52 Female HOUSEMAID RIGHT 0-140; 75-80 POS/POS/POS 80 30%
02 56 Male RETIRED LEFT 0-140; 75-80 POS/POS/POS 77 20%
03 66 Male COMMERCIAL REPRESENTATIVE RIGHT 0-140; 90-90 POS/POS/NEG 60 30%
04 48 Female HOUSEMAID RIGHT 5-140; 75-85 POS/POS/NEG 63 50%
05 53 Female TEACHER RIGHT 0-130; 70-80 POS/POS/POS 74 40%
06 50 Female HAIRDRESSER RIGHT 0-120; 65-80 POS/POS/NEG 87 30%
07 46 Female CLEANING ATTENDANT RIGHT 0-140; 75-80 POS/POS/NEG 93 50%
08 49 Female CLEANING ATTENDANT RIGHT 0-120; 70-80 POS/POS/POS 75 45%
09 51 Female UNEMPLOYED RIGHT 0-130; 65-75 POS/POS/POS 76 30%
10 44 Female HOUSEMAID RIGHT 0-120; 60-80 POS/POS/NEG 77 60%
11 48 Female RADIOLOGY TECHNICIAN RIGHT 0-140; 70-85 POS/NEG/NEG 68 70%
12 57 Male TEACHER RIGHT 0-120; 75-80 POS/POS/NEG 69 50%
13 45 Female MANICURIST RIGHT 0-130; 70-85 POS/POS/NEG 74 30%
14 49 Female FINANCIAL EXECUTIVE RIGHT 0-140; 75-85 POS/POS/POS 85 90%
15 59 Male TAXI DRIVER RIGHT 0-140;90-90 NEG/POS/POS 73 60%
16 55 Male LAWYER RIGHT 0-140;90-90 POS/POS/POS 66 30%
17 60 Female HOUSEKEEPER RIGHT 0-140;90-90 POS/POS/POS 72 30%
18 40 Female ELDERLY CAREGIVER RIGHT 0-140;90-90 NEG/NEG/POS 71 25%
19 51 Male HAIRDRESSER LEFT 0-140;80-80 NEG/NEG/POS 74 50%
20 43 Male DOORMAN RIGHT 0-130;80-80 POS/POS/POS 73 70%
21 39 Female SEAMSTRESS RIGHT 0-140;90-90 POS/POS/POS 78 35%
22 44 Female HOUSEMAID RIGHT 0-140;90-90 POS/POS/POS 70 55%
23 45 Male DRIVER LEFT 0-140;90-90 POS/POS/POS 60 45%
24 46 Female CLEANING ATTENDANT LEFT 0-140; 80-90 POS/NEG/POS 75 40%
25 56 Male TEACHER RIGHT 0-130; 75-80 POS/POS/POS 68 30%
26 42 Female RADIOLOGY TECHNICIAN LEFT 0-140; 80-90 POS/POS/NEG 62 50%
27 54 Female NURSE ASSISTANT LEFT 0-140; 90-90 POS/NEG/NEG 60 50%
28 45 Male RETIRED RIGHT 0-140; 80-90 POS/POS/NEG 65 30%
29 33 Female HAIRDRESSER RIGHT 0-130;80-80 POS/POS/POS 81 70%
30 47 Female HOUSEMAID RIGHT 0-140;80-90 POS/POS/POS 63 60%
31 45 Female COMMERCIAL REPRESENTATIVE RIGHT 0-140;90-90 POS/POS/POS 76 80%
32 40 Female HOUSEKEEPER RIGHT 0-140;90-90 POS/POS/POS 70 60%
33 54 Female HAIRDRESSER RIGHT 0-140;90-90 NEG/POS/POS 82 80%
34 37 Female HAIRDRESSER RIGHT 0-140;90-90 NEG/NEG/POS 60 80%
35 47 Female LAUNDRY WORKER RIGHT 0-130;80-80 POS/POS/POS 66 60%
36 36 Male BRICKLAYER ASSISTANT LEFT 0-130;90-90 POS/POS/POS 67 70%
37 38 Male MECHANIC RIGHT 0-140;90-90 POS/NEG/NEG 68 60%

Abbreviation: F/E, flexion/extension; NEG, negative; P/S, pronation/supination; POS, positive; PRTEE, Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation; ROM, rane of motion; SEV, Subjective Elbow Value.

Table 1. Patients list

The inclusion criteria were: compatible findings at clinical history and physical examination, complemented by ultrasound findings, normal results at elbow radiographs, and lack of any previous treatment.

Clinical criteria used for diagnosis included chronic pain at the lateral aspect of the elbow, defined as pain for more than 12 weeks, pain during lateral epicondyle palpation and positivity in at least two of the following physical examination tests: pain during wrist or finger extension against resistance with the elbow at 90 degrees of flexion (Cozen test),12 pain with the elbow in extension and passive wrist extension (Mills test),12 pain during elevation from chair with pronated and semiflexed wrist (Gardner test),12 pain at resistive supination,12 and pain during passive stretch of the supinator muscle12 (Figure 2A-B). All photos belong to the authors' archives and pictures of all physical examination tests would exceed the maximum number of pictures allowed by this journal.

Fig. 2. (A) Cozen test, (B) Mills test.

The exclusion criteria were: previous history of rheumatologic disease and/or arthritis, orthopedic disorders affecting the elbow other than LEE, acute elbow pain, diabetes mellitus, pregnancy, neurological diseases, peripheral neuropathies, recent acute upper limb trauma, previous surgery on the affected limb, and chronic polyarthralgia.

The clinical diagnosis was made and then confirmed by an ultrasound examination; an x-ray of the affected elbow was also performed to exclude other orthopedic joint conditions.11

The research project was duly approved by the research ethics committee of the institution. All patients participating in this study signed an informed consent form.

The 37 patients diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis were evaluated using the PRTEE and SEV scales during an outpatient visit at our hospital.8-11

An Excel spreadsheet (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA, USA) was used for data organization. The IBM SPSS statistical package, version 23.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was used for results analysis. The Mann-Whitney test was used to verify possible differences between genders and to analyze the relationship between laterality and SEV.

The Spearman's correlation analysis was used to evaluate the degree of relationship between SEV and PRTEE. Values were considered statistically significant when p- value was greater than or equal to 5% (p ≥0.05).

 

RESULTS

In total, 25 patients were female (67.6%); the mean patients' age was 47 years, 10 months-old, and 27 (79.4%) subjects performed activities associated with repetitive elbow or wrist movements. At the physical examination tests, 86.4%, 81%, and 67.5% of the patients presented positive results at the Cozen, Mills, and Gardner tests, respectively.

The Mann-Whitney test was used to evaluate whether gender and laterality represented important factors in SEV results and found no statistically significant differences. Therefore, the fact that the patient affected by LEE was male or female did not influence the degree of elbow involvement (p = 0.179); similarly, whether the affected side was the right or left one did not represent a statistically significant factor (p = 0.433) (Table 2).

Table 2. Gender and laterality results
Variable Gender n Average Standard deviation Minimum Maximum 25th percentile 50th percentile (Median) 75th percentile Significance (p)
SEV Female 25 54.80% 18.62% 30.00% 100.00% 40.00% 50.00% 70.00% 0.179
Male 12 45.42% 17.25% 20.00% 70.00% 30.00% 47.50% 60.00%
Total 37 51.76% 18.49% 20.00% 100.00% 32.50% 50.00% 65.00%  

Abbreviation: SEV, subjective elbow value

Table 2. Gender and laterality results
.
Variable Gender n Average Standard deviation Minimum Maximum 25th percentile 50th percentile (Median) 75th percentile Significance (p)
SEV Right 30 53.00% 19.24% 30.00% 100.00% 40.00% 52.50% 70.00% 0.1433
Left 7 46.43% 14.92% 20.00% 70.00% 30.00% 50.00% 50.00%
Total 37 51.76% 18.49% 20.00% 100.00% 32.50% 50.00% 65.00%  
.

The Spearman correlation analysis evaluated if there was a statistically significant relationship between the results obtained with the SEV and PRTEE scales; since this relationship actually existed, results were equivalent when both scales were applied (p = 0.017) (Table 3).

Table 3. Scales comparison results Value
Variable Statistical Analysis SEV
AGE Coefficient of correlation (r) -0.409
Calculated significance (p) 0.012
n 37
PRTEE Coefficient of correlation (r) +0.391
Calculated significance (p) 0.017
n 37

Abbreviations: PRTEE, Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation; SEV, Subjective Elbow

Table 3. Scales comparison results Value
 

DISCUSSION

Previous researches have shown that the PRTEE scale is a satisfactory method for evaluating LEE patients, since it was created specifically for the study of these subjects. The PRTEE scale presents a good correlation with clinical complaints in subjects with LEE-associated functional limitations.7,13 In several case series, the PRTEE scale demonstrated a good sensitivity in the evaluation of LEE patients, but it is very extensive and difficult for the examiner to memorize; these are its main limitations for its use in clinical practice. The PRTEE had good sensitivity and specificity in the evaluation of both acute and chronic LEE cases.7,13,14

Consistent with the literature, our study also demonstrated that SEV is a simple and easy-to-use scale for the clinical investigation of the degree of functional impairment in patients with elbow conditions, being easily understood by the subject and rapidly memorized by the physician. In addition, SEV was developed to evaluate any elbow condition.15

A study conducted in 2014 observed that there was a moderate statistical relationship between SEV and MEPS in the evaluation of patients with elbow tendon conditions; this paper showed that, despite being simple, SEV is as good as a more complex scale, such as MEPS, in evaluating these diseases.16

In 2017, Ernstbrunner observed similar results in the postoperative evaluation of patients undergoing total elbow arthroplasty using MEPS or SEV scales.17

A 2011 study demonstrated similar results between SEV and MEPS in the evaluation of patients submitted to an anconeus graft at the elbow for chronic posterior skin defect with no joint involvement; this finding confirmed information from the previous study that SEV is a very appropriate scale for elbow conditions.18

Our study observed a statistically significant relationship between results obtained with the SEV and PRTEE scales in the evaluation of patients diagnosed with LEE.

 

CONCLUSION

Subjective elbow value is a functional scale with statistically similar results to those of PRTEE in the evaluation of untreated LEE patients.

 

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