Tennis elbow. The surgical treatment of lateral epicondylitis.

TLDR

The operative pathology consistently revealed immature fibroblastic and vascular infiltration at the origin of the extensor carpi radialis brevis. Eighty‑eight elbows in 82 patients underwent a specific procedure involving exposure of the extensor carpi radialis brevis, excision of the lesion, and repair. At follow‑up, 97.7 % of elbows improved, with 85.2 % of patients returning to full activity, and outcomes were rated excellent in 66 elbows, good in 9, fair in 11, and failed in 2.

Abstract

Of the 1,213 clinical cases of lateral tennis elbow seen during the time period from December 19, 1971, to October 31, 1977, eighty-eight elbows in eighty-two patients had operative treatment. The lesion that was consistently identified at surgery was immature fibroblastic and vascular infiltration of the origin of the extensor carpi radialis brevis. A specific surgical technique was employed, including exposure of the extensor carpi radialis brevis, excision of the identified lesion, and repair. The results at follow-up were rated as excellent in sixty-six elbows, good in nine, fair in eleven, and failed in two. There was an over-all improvement rate of 97.7 per cent, and 85.2 per cent of the patients returned to full activity including rigorous sports.