title: Arthroscopic technique for medial epicondylitis: technique and safety analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goals of this study are to report on a novel arthroscopic technique for the treatment of medial epicondylitis and to further describe the anatomic relations between the site of arthroscopic debridement and both the ulnar nerve and medial collateral ligament (MCL) complex.
  
  
  METHODS
  Arthroscopic debridement of the medial epicondyle was performed on 8 fresh-frozen cadaveric specimens. Each specimen was dissected, and the shortest distance from the debridement site to both the ulnar nerve and MCL complex was measured with a 3-dimensional motion-tracking system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean distance between the debridement site and the ulnar nerve was 20.8 mm (range, 14.4 to 25.1 mm), and the mean distance between the medial debridement site and the origin of the anterior bundle of the MCL was 8.3 mm (range, 5.9 to 10.4 mm).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that arthroscopic debridement of the medial epicondyle can be performed with low risk of injury to the ulnar nerve or MCL complex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This cadaveric study indicates a potential role for elbow arthroscopy in the surgical management of refractory medial epicondylitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, The Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island 02818, USA.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zonno
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Manuel
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Merrell
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Akelman
authors.forename: Manuel F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: DaSilva
mesh_terms: D001168:Arthritis / Q000601:surgery*; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D002102:Cadaver; D017885:Collateral Ligaments; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods*; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014459:Ulnar Nerve