Arthroscopic Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis

Lateral epicondylitis is a common orthopedic condition affecting up to 3% of the American population. Rest, activity modification, and conservative therapies are generally efficacious in relieving symptoms in the majority of patients; however, a small percentage of people will experience refractory pain and require surgical intervention to alleviate their discomfort. Surgical release of the extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon origin can be done through an open, percutaneous, or arthroscopic approach. Many authors report high success rates among these 3 procedures. A host of anatomic and cadaveric studies have highlighted the locations of important neurovascular and soft-tissue structures, helping to make the arthroscopic approach to lateral epicondylitis safer. In this study, we present the operative technique used by our senior authors for the arthroscopic management of lateral epicondylitis. In addition, our initial clinical experience and outcomes are presented. It appears that all 3 surgical approaches result in high success rates with a trend toward earlier return to work and full activity with less invasive procedures.