Percutaneous release of the common extensor origin for tennis elbow.

Thirty patients (32 elbows) who had surgery for tennis elbow were examined. Symptoms were present an average of 18 months before surgery. The operation was done percutaneously through an incision just distal to the lateral epicondyle, through which the common extensor origin was released. The followup period was 6 to 61 months, with an average of 26 months. Twenty-nine elbows had good or excellent results. In these 29, the pain was relieved an average of 9 weeks after surgery. Three elbows did not improve significantly, and treatment was considered a failure. The grip strength improved from an average of 60% of the opposite side before surgery to 90% after surgery.