A prospective study was done of the results of lateral release of the common extensor origin in 63 patients who had a tennis elbow. 57 of these patients were followed for a mean of 59 months (range, 50 to 65 months). At the time of the operation, the extensor origin was macroscopically normal in all but 6 patients. 47 (76 per cent) of the 62 patients who were evaluated at one year had no pain or only slight pain, whereas before the operation 3 patients (5 per cent) had had slight pain and 60 (95 per cent), severe pain. Of the 57 patients who were re-examined after 5 years, 52 (91 per cent) had no pain or only slight pain. At one year, 20 patients (32 per cent) had an excellent over-all result; 23 (37 per cent), a good result; 12 (19 per cent), a fair result; and 7 (11 per cent), a poor result. At 5 years, there were 32 excellent results (56 per cent), 19 good results (33 per cent), 4 fair results (7 per cent), and 2 poor results (4 per cent). No association between the preoperative findings and the results of the operation was found. It was concluded that lateral extensor release, a relatively simple operation that can be performed in an outpatient setting, may be regarded at this time as the operative procedure with which other operations for tennis elbow should be compared.
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.
A prospective study was done of the results of lateral release of the common extensor origin in 63 patients who had a tennis elbow. 57 of these patients were followed for a mean of 59 months (range, 50 to 65 months). At the time of the operation, the extensor origin was macroscopically normal in all but 6 patients. 47 (76 per cent) of the 62 patients who were evaluated at one year had no pain or only slight pain, whereas before the operation 3 patients (5 per cent) had had slight pain and 60 (95 per cent), severe pain. Of the 57 patients who were re-examined after 5 years, 52 (91 per cent) had no pain or only slight pain. At one year, 20 patients (32 per cent) had an excellent over-all result; 23 (37 per cent), a good result; 12 (19 per cent), a fair result; and 7 (11 per cent), a poor result. At 5 years, there were 32 excellent results (56 per cent), 19 good results (33 per cent), 4 fair results (7 per cent), and 2 poor results (4 per cent). No association between the preoperative findings and the results of the operation was found. It was concluded that lateral extensor release, a relatively simple operation that can be performed in an outpatient setting, may be regarded at this time as the operative procedure with which other operations for tennis elbow should be compared.
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.