Lateral epicondylitis, or ‘tennis elbow’, is a degeneration of the tendons of the elbow muscles responsible for the extension of the wrist and fingers.

This condition mainly affects patients between 30 and 50 years old and can be exacerbated or influenced by repetitive everyday movements.

Tennis elbow: symptoms and diagnosis

Patients suffer from shooting pains around the outside of the elbow. The pain is worse when lifting objects. Stiffness and pain may be felt when extending the elbow, especially in the morning. Pain is made worse by extending the wrist and fingers in the presence of resistance.

Tennis elbow: treatment and progression

Medical treatment

More than 90 % of patients get better after 9 to 12 months without any treatment.
Immobilisation by applying a splint to the wrist can significantly reduce the pain.
Local corticosteroid injections can help overcome the symptoms for several weeks but they don’t improve the final result. 

Surgery

If there is no improvement through medical treatment, patients may undergo surgery.

The intervention takes place under local anaesthetic at a day clinic. An incision is made in the elbow in order to release the inflamed tendons.

The elbow isn’t immobilised after the operation and a return to normal activity is permitted depending on the level of pain.
Results are guaranteed in 80 to 90 % of cases.