Summary

We present the experience of the arthroscopy treatment of the lateral epicondylitis in the elbow

Abstract

Among the pathologies associated with upper extremity overuse, the incidence of tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis of the elbow has increased. Conservative management includes eliminating the promoting activity, which has a high index of recurrence and generates alterations of the labor and socioeconomic activities for the patient. The surgical treatment includes open techniques which are associated with decreased strength, loss of the grip, recurrence, scars, and prolonged disabilities which generate a high cost to the patient and the health system. The knowledge of the surgical anatomy of the elbow and the improvement of the arthroscopy techniques and instruments have promoted arthroscopy as the treatment of choice for this pathology with positive results in up to 90% of the cases, transitory neuropraxia of
the posterior interosseous nerve, 6 patients, recurrence pain 10%  and low incidence of complications with the treatment,  with a quick return to the labor activities. This study  is a prospective, descriptive series of 161 patients  from January 2003 to December 2023,  with this pathology
The average age is 49, with 70 women and 91 men. Preoperative and postoperative pain evaluated on the visual scale analogous to pain decreased significantly from severe pain to mild and low pain in most cases. The results of the postoperative Quick-DASH were mostly classified as excellent and good in  90% of the patients. The approximate time of labor return was 32.73 days. Complications recurrence pain 16%, Neuropraxia of the posterior interosseous nerve in 6 patients, which resolved spontaneously on average at 16 weeks. Conclusions: The arthroscopic treatment for refractory lateral epicondylitis to conservative treatment showed satisfactory clinical and functional results, being a safe technique with a shorter labor reintegration time. with good outcomes in 90% of the cases