Treatment of recalcitrant lateral epicondylitis of the elbow by surgical release of the common extensor origin

A prospective non-randomized study of 21 patients with recalcitrant lateral epicondylitis of the elbow was carried out to evaluate the results of the surgical release of the common extensor origin. The dominant arm was involved in 76.2% of the patients. The average duration of symptoms before the operation was 19 months [range, 9-38 months]. The average duration of follow up was 24 months [range of 10-42 months]. The results of the current study suggested that the release of the common extensor origin is an acceptable surgical modality to provide an effective treatment for the resistant lateral epicondylitis when nonoperative management fails