Radiofrequency Microtenotomy for Elbow Epicondylitis: Midterm Results.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Procedures

Background:

• Chronic elbow tendinosis, including lateral epicondylitis and medial epicondylitis, often fails to respond to conservative treatments.
• Evaluating novel minimally invasive techniques is crucial for managing refractory tendinopathies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the safety and midterm effectiveness of radiofrequency-based microtenotomy for chronic elbow tendinosis.
• To determine the durability of outcomes for patients treated with this technique.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, nonrandomized, single-center clinical study was conducted.
• Eighty patients with chronic elbow tendinosis (69 lateral epicondylitis, 11 medial epicondylitis) underwent radiofrequency microtenotomy using the Topaz Microdebrider.
• Patients were followed for up to 9 years, with pain assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS).

Main Results:

• Ninety-one percent of patients reported successful outcomes.
• Significant pain reduction was observed in both lateral epicondylitis (VAS 6.9 to 1.3, 81% improvement) and medial epicondylitis (VAS 6.1 to 1.3, 79% improvement) groups (P ≤ .01).
• No complications were reported during the follow-up period.

Conclusions:

• Radiofrequency-based microtenotomy is a safe and effective treatment option for chronic elbow epicondylitis.
• The procedure provides durable pain relief and functional improvement, with successful outcomes maintained up to 9 years post-surgery.