Arthroscopic technique for medial epicondylitis: technique and safety analysis.
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.
Zonno
Alan
A
Department of Orthopaedics, The Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island 02818, USA.
Manuel
Jennifer
J
Merrell
Gregory
G
Ramos
Paul
P
Akelman
Edward
E
DaSilva
Manuel F
MF
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