The Prevalence of Calcifications at the Origin of the Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis Increases with Age

Abstract

Background: Enthesopathy of the extensor carpi radialis brevis origin [eECRB] is a common idiopathic, noninflammatory<br />disease of middle age that is characterized by excess glycosaminoglycan production and frequently<br />associated with radiographic calcification of its origin. The purpose of our study was to assess the relationship of<br />calcification of the ECRB and advancing age.<br />Methods: We included 28,563 patients who received an elbow radiograph and assessed the relationship of calcifications<br />of the ECRB identified on radiograph reports with patient age, sex, race, affected side, and ordering indication using<br />multivariable logistic regression.<br />Results: Calcifications of the ECRB were independently associated with age (OR:1.04; P<0.001); radiographs<br />ordered for atraumatic pain (OR2.6; P<0.001) or lateral epicondylitis (OR5.5; P<0.001); and Hispanic ethnicity (OR1.5;<br />P<0.001) and less likely to be found at the left side (OR0.68; P<0.001). Similarly, incidental calcifications of the ECRB,<br />those on radiographs not ordered for atraumatic pain or lateral epicondylitis, were independently associated with<br />age (OR1.03; P<0.001) and Hispanic ethnicity (OR1.5; P<0.024) and less likely to be found on the left side (OR0.71;<br />P<0.001).<br />Conclusion: We observed that about nine percent of people have ECRB calcification by the time they are in their sixth<br />decade of life and calcifications persist in the absence of symptoms which supports the idea that eECRB is a common,<br />self-limited diagnosis of middle age.<br />Level of evidence: II