[Recurrent epicondylitis after Wilhelm's operation and its treatment]

Three patients among 107 operated on before 1985 according to Wilhelm's procedure for epicondylitis humero radialis showed no therapeutic response due to insufficient discission of the extensor carpi radialis brevis. We successfully used Garden's procedure at reoperation, with lengthening of the extensor carpi radialis brevis at the distal part of the forearm. As a direct result of our experience with these cases of recurrent epicondylitis we now consider a combination of the Garden and Wilhelm procedures the method of choice in treating patients suffering from the primary ligamentum anulare syndrome with shortened musculus extensor carpi radialis brevis. Two patients primarily treated according to the combined procedure have shown a successful result on follow-up over 60 and 55 months, respectively.