Time to functional recovery after arthroscopic surgery for tennis elbow

• Published in: Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery Vol. 23; no. 10; pp. 1527 - 1531
• Main Authors: Oki, Gosuke, MD, Iba, Kousuke, MD, Sasaki, Kouichi, MD, Yamashita, Toshihiko, MD, Wada, Takuro, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.2014
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Arthroscopic surgery; Arthroscopy; Elbow - injuries; Elbow - physiopathology; Female; functional recovery; grip strength; Humans; lateral epicondylitis; Male; Middle Aged; Orthopedics; Prospective Studies; Recovery of Function; tennis elbow; Tennis Elbow - surgery; Time Factors; VAS; Treatment Study; Arthroscopic surgery; Level IV; Case Series; lateral epicondylitis; VAS; tennis elbow; grip strength; functional recovery
• ISSN: 1058-2746; 1532-6500
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2014.05.010

Background This study evaluated recovery from chronic lateral epicondylitis after arthroscopic treatment. Methods Twenty-three consecutive patients (5 men, 18 women) with chronic lateral epicondylitis underwent arthroscopic surgery. Patients were a mean age of 49 years. Prospective outcome data were collected before the operation and at 1, 2, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery. Outcomes were assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS: 0-100), grip strength percentage (compared with the unaffected side), the Japanese Orthopaedic Association elbow score, and the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire. Results A mean VAS score at rest of 26 preoperatively improved to 8 ( P  = .0026), 6, and 3 at 1, 2, and 3 months after surgery, respectively. A mean VAS score during activity improved from 68 preoperatively to 35 ( P  < .001), 23, and 19 at 1, 2, and 3 months after surgery, respectively. Both VAS scores gradually decreased up to 24 months after surgery. The mean grip strength improved from 66.1% preoperatively to 88.7% at 2 months after surgery ( P  < .001). The mean Japanese Orthopaedic Association elbow score improved from 38 points preoperatively to 61 points at 1 month after surgery ( P  < .001). The mean Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score improved from 32 points preoperatively to 15 points at 3 months after surgery ( P  < .001). Conclusion Arthroscopic surgery for lateral epicondylitis provides significant improvement in pain and functional recovery up to 3 months after surgery. However, it takes more than 6 months for the VAS score during activity to fall below 10 points.