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PATIENT VALIDATION RESULTS FOR OPEN RELEASE OF THE COMMON EXTENSOR ORIGIN IN THE FAILED NON OPERATIVE MANAGEMENT OF TENNIS ELBOW

Department of Orthopaedics, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, Cumbria. UK

Aim: To assess the outcome of open release of the common extensor origin in the management of tennis elbow after the failure of non operative treatment methods.

Methods: 18 patients (24 elbows) between the age group of 38 to 59 who underwent open release of the common extensor origin by the same team after a mean waiting time of 23 months from the onset of pain and a trial of failed non operative methods like analgesics/nsaids, physiotherapy, local steroid injections were contacted and asked to score the effectiveness of surgery after a gap of six months. Since the predominant troubling symptom for all patients was pain they were asked to score the pain relief correlating with the surgery.

Results: In 15 patients (83%) excellent pain relief (defined as an 8 or more out of 10 improvement) was achieved and they regained normal use of the limb. One patient (5%) had moderate improvement (score between 6 and 7 out of 10) and two further (11%) patients gained minimal benefit with persistent symptoms (score 5 out of 10). None of the patients suffered deterioration as a result of surgery.

Conclusion: This study proves that despite new advances in the treatment of tennis elbow, release of the extensor origin by the open method which is a simple and economical day case procedure, still remains an excellent option in cases where trial of non operative management has failed.

Correspondence should be addressed to The Secretary, British Elbow and Shoulder Society, The Royal College of Surgeons of England, 35–43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE.