Arthroscopic surgery versus open surgery for lateral epicondylitis in an active work population: a comparative study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Upper Limb Surgery
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, frequently affects individuals with repetitive upper limb tasks.
• While conservative treatments succeed in most cases, surgery is considered for resistant conditions.
• Both open surgery and arthroscopy are established surgical options for lateral epicondylitis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the clinical outcomes of arthroscopic surgery versus open surgery using the Wolff technique for lateral epicondylitis.
• To evaluate differences in functional status and pain reduction between the two surgical methods.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study involving 47 patients with resistant lateral epicondylitis.
• Patients were divided into two groups: 27 underwent arthroscopic surgery and 20 underwent open surgery (Wolff technique).
• Outcomes measured included Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, QuickDASH, Mayo Elbow Performance Score, Broberg and Morrey Rating System, work leave duration, and surgical time.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences were found between arthroscopic and open surgery groups in VAS pain scores, QuickDASH, Mayo Elbow Performance Score, or Broberg and Morrey scores.
• Patient recovery times, indicated by time off work, were also comparable between the groups.
• Arthroscopic surgery had a significantly longer mean surgical time (44.2 minutes) compared to open surgery (27.5 minutes).

Conclusions:

• Arthroscopic surgery and open surgery (Wolff technique) yield similar functional and pain relief outcomes for treating lateral epicondylitis.
• The choice between arthroscopic and open surgery may depend on factors beyond clinical outcomes, considering the difference in surgical time.