Medial Epicondylitis in Occupational Settings: Prevalence, Incidence and Associated Risk Factors

Learning Objectives Recall the approximate prevalence of medial epicondylitis in this study of workers required by their jobs to make repetitive movements, as well as the incidence in those re-examined after 3 years. Specify the clinical, demographic, and work-related factors associated with medial epicondylitis in this study population. Discuss the outlook for workers with medial epicondylitis and the place of this condition in the spectrum of work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremity. Because medial epicondylitis has not been studied alone, we investigated its links between personal and occupational factors in repetitive work and its course. A total of 1757 workers were examined by an occupational health physician in 1993–1994. Five hundred ninety-eight of them were reexamined 3 years later. Prevalence was between 4% and 5%, with an annual incidence estimate at 1.5%. Forceful work was a risk factor (odds ratio [OR], 1.95; confidence interval [CI] = 1.15–3.32), but not exposure to repetitive work (OR, 1.11; CI = 0.59–2.10). Workers with medial epicondylitis had a significantly higher prevalence of other work-related upper-limb musculoskeletal disorders (WRMD). Risk factors differed for medial and lateral epicondylitis. The prognosis for medial epicondylitis in this population was good with a 3-year recovery rate at 81%. Medial epicondylitis was clearly associated with forceful work and other upper-limb WRMD, and its prognosis was good.