title: Time to functional recovery after arthroscopic surgery for tennis elbow.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study evaluated recovery from chronic lateral epicondylitis after arthroscopic treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three consecutive patients (5 men, 18 women) with chronic lateral epicondylitis underwent arthroscopic surgery. Patients were a mean age of 49 years. Prospective outcome data were collected before the operation and at 1, 2, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery. Outcomes were assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS: 0-100), grip strength percentage (compared with the unaffected side), the Japanese Orthopaedic Association elbow score, and the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A mean VAS score at rest of 26 preoperatively improved to 8 (P = .0026), 6, and 3 at 1, 2, and 3 months after surgery, respectively. A mean VAS score during activity improved from 68 preoperatively to 35 (P < .001), 23, and 19 at 1, 2, and 3 months after surgery, respectively. Both VAS scores gradually decreased up to 24 months after surgery. The mean grip strength improved from 66.1% preoperatively to 88.7% at 2 months after surgery (P < .001). The mean Japanese Orthopaedic Association elbow score improved from 38 points preoperatively to 61 points at 1 month after surgery (P < .001). The mean Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score improved from 32 points preoperatively to 15 points at 3 months after surgery (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arthroscopic surgery for lateral epicondylitis provides significant improvement in pain and functional recovery up to 3 months after surgery. However, it takes more than 6 months for the VAS score during activity to fall below 10 points.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan. Electronic address: gousuke1717@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Gosuke
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oki
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kousuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iba
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kouichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy; D004550:Elbow / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013716:Tennis Elbow / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D000092464:Elbow Injuries
keywords: Arthroscopic surgery; VAS; functional recovery; grip strength; lateral epicondylitis; tennis elbow