Percutaneous Tenotomy for Humeral Epicondyliti.

We report on percutaneous tenotomy for chronic lateral or medial humeral epocondylitis.Thirty-four patents, (16 males, 18 females) received 36 tenotomies. (27 lateral and 9 medial epicondylitis cases.) Patent ranged in age from 35 to 61 years with an average of 46 years. All cases were followed for an average of 13 months, the longest being 20 months and the shortest 7 months.The operation is done as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia. Using a Noll blade, a puncture incision is made in the skin at the epicondyle. The release is carried down to the distal portion of the epicondyle.Results were judged to be good or excellent in 32 cases (88.9%). In our experience, percutaneous tenotomy is a safe, simple operation that can be performed as an outpatient procedure.Considerably high success rates can be expected with low risk and convenience to the patient.