title: Prognostic Factors of Arthroscopic Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis Release for Lateral Epicondylitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to analyze factors affecting the treatment outcomes and prognoses of arthroscopic debridement for refractory lateral epicondylitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 45 patients who had undergone arthroscopic extensor carpi radialis brevis release for chronic refractory lateral epicondylitis between October 2008 and December 2012. Demographic data, magnetic resonance imaging studies, and arthroscopic findings were examined and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the enrolled patients (23 men and 22 women) was 45.9 ± 7.8 years, and the mean follow-up duration was 26.9 ± 9.0 months. All the patients showed significant clinical improvement on all parameters assessed using the visual analog scale (6.9 preoperatively to 0.9 postoperatively), the Upper Extremity Functional Scale (34.8 to 66.7), and the Mayo Elbow Score (63.5 to 92.3) (P < .05). There were no reports of serious surgical complications. At final follow-up, 37 patients (82.2%) were satisfied with their outcomes whereas 8 patients (17.8%) were dissatisfied. In terms of demographic factors, female sex was significantly different between the 2 groups. On preoperative magnetic resonance imaging, 7 patients in the satisfied group (18.9%) had a definite tendon lesion (grade III defect, ≥6 mm) whereas 6 patients in the dissatisfied group (75%) had a grade III defect (P = .016).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, clinical outcome scores showed improvement after arthroscopic extensor carpi radialis brevis release for refractory lateral epicondylitis. However, preoperative tendon status and sex were associated with dissatisfaction and poor postoperative outcomes after the arthroscopic release procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level IV, therapeutic case series.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Pil
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: smilecsw@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Seok Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hyuck
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Byoung-Joo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: In-Ho
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Ju
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Joo
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013710:Tendons / Q000601:surgery*; D013716:Tennis Elbow / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome