Lateral epicondylitis: tendinitis or tendinosis?

Abstract

Lateral epicondylitis is a common pathology of the musculoskeletal system resulting from repeated microtrauma of the extensor muscles of the forearm and their tendons. Lateral epicondylitis was previously thought to be tendinitis, which is an inflammatory reaction in the tendon. However, histopathologically, it has been shown to be low in inflammatory elements: macrophages and neutrophils. Thus, it is now believed that this pathology is a tendinosis, which is defined as a degenerative rather than an inflammatory process.