- Roland Knudsen: Jernbane Alle 3 B, DK-5250 Odense SV. rolandknudsen@hotmail.com
INTRODUCTION: Surgical treatment of lateral epicondylitits (LE) has not been investigated sufficiently to allow general guidelines, nor has non-invasive treatment produced sufficiently good results. We present the results of 31 mini-tenotomies performed to treat lateral epicondylitis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective follow-up study of 31 elbows treated with mini-tenotomy for LE. The average period with symptoms was 125 weeks, the average follow-up 73 weeks. The mini-tenotomies were performed under local anaesthesia and the extensor aponeurosis was cut close to the epicondyl.
RESULTS: A total of 27 of 31 patients reported that their LE had become much better or that all the pain had gone. The Quick DASH score decreased from 66 preoperatively to 13 at the follow-up (p < 0.001). Surgery achieved its maximal effect on average four weeks after surgery. Two patients experienced that the pain came back.
CONCLUSION: A prospective randomised investigation is warranted; yet, the present results indicate that mini-tenotomy could be a promising treatment for a selected group with isolated LE.