Surgical treatment of tennis elbow: percutaneous release of the common extensor origin.

Twenty six patients who had undergone percutaneous release of the common extensor tendon for lateral epicondylitis were investigated. Fourteen were female and twelve were male. The mean follow-up period was 32 months. Symptoms had been present for an average of 8.9 months. Before the surgery, all the patients were surgically treated with conservative methods; only those that did not respond to conservative methods were surgically treated. The common extensor origin was released percutaneously. Pain relief was achieved on average eight weeks after surgery. The clinical results were evaluated in terms of pain, activity level and patient satisfaction. The results were excellent in twenty-four patients, good in one and poor in one. Release of the common extensor origin appears as a commendable treatment in patients with lateral epicondylar pain not relieved by conservative management.