Anconeus muscle transposition for failed surgical treatment of tennis elbow: preliminary results.

The authors conducted a retrospective study on their first 10 patients treated with an anconeus muscle transposition after failed surgery for chronic lateral epicondylitis. All patients had initially been treated conservatively, and subsequently with a classical or percutaneous release of the common extensor origin. The secundary procedure involved wide excision of the common extensor origin, débridement of the lateral epicondyle and rotation of the anconeus muscle into the defect. At follow-up the results were excellent in 3 patients, good in 4 and poor in 3. This appears as a valid salvage procedure for lateral epicondylitis, since the operation was performed as a second or even a third approach.