Lateral epicondylalgia: treatment by manipulation under anaesthetic and steroid injection and operative release

A retrospective study of 112 cases of lateral epicondylalgia treated between April 1995 and April 1998 was conducted. The treatment modalities included manipulation under anaesthetic and operative release. A questionnaire was used to assess the outcome. The patients who were unresponsive to conservative treatment either had manipulation under anaesthetic and a steroid injection or had an operative release. Those who had manipulation under anaesthetic and injection had 33.3% satisfactory outcome for pain and function at 17.2 months mean follow-up. Among those who had operative release, 69% had satisfactory outcome for pain and function at 17.2 months mean follow-up. The results of manipulation under anaesthetic and steroid injection are not good enough for this treatment to be recommended in the management of tennis elbow. It is more effective to treat the patients unresponsive to conservative treatment with open release.