Outcome of surgery for lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow): effect of worker's compensation

We retrospectively compared the results of extensor origin release for lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) against worker's compensation (WC) status. All patients (N = 57) underwent extensor origin release between October 1989 and June 1998. For the 33 patients (37 elbows) who received WC, mean follow-up was 55 months; for the 25 patients (26 elbows) who did not receive WC, mean follow-up was 45 months. Pain relief, symptom recurrence, satisfaction with procedure outcome, and ability to return to work (same or similar job) were evaluated. Pain relief was reliably achieved in the WC and non-WC groups (36/37 and 24/26 elbows, respectively). Symptom recurrence was intermittent in both groups, and few patients sought medical intervention for recurrent symptoms. Patient satisfaction was high in the WC and non-WC groups (35/37 and 26/26 elbows, respectively). A majority of patients in both groups returned to work, but a significantly higher percentage of patients in the WC group changed jobs because of persistent symptoms.