title: Lateral epicondylitis treatment by extensor carpi radialis fasciotomy and radial nerve decompression: is outcome influenced by the occupational disease compensation aspect?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The etiology, treatment, and patient management in cases of chronic epicondylitis, within the legislation on occupational disease, remain highly controversial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Recognition as an occupational disease has a negative influence on the functional result of epicondylitis treated with aponeurotomy and neurolysis of the motor branch of the radial nerve.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight patients (30 cases of epicondylitis) were operated between January 2007 and January 2008. There were nine men and 19 women whose mean age was 46.1 years. A preoperative EMG found anomalies in the deep posterior interosseous nerve in all cases. Patients were divided into two groups: one group of patients recognized as having an occupational disease and a group of patients whose disease was not considered occupation-related.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients were seen at follow-up at a mean 21.8 months. In the group of patients with occupational disease, there were six excellent, nine good, and five acceptable results; in the second group, there were six excellent, two good, and two acceptable results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recognition of epicondylitis as an occupational disease has a significant influence only on the time to pain relief and the result on strength.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level IV. Retrospective study.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Surgery Department, Angers Teaching Medical Center, 4, rue Larrey, 49033 Angers, France. nicolas.bigorre@wanadoo.fr
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bigorre
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Raimbeau
authors.forename: P-A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Fouque
authors.forename: Y Saint
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Cast
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rabarin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cesari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D000071938:Fasciotomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011826:Radial Nerve / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013716:Tennis Elbow / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*