Editorial Commentary: Dealer's Choice for Arthroscopic Versus Open Lateral Epicondylitis Release? It's Not That Simple.

Abstract

The most efficacious treatment for patients with persistent lateral epicondylitis who have not adequately improved despite undergoing extended nonoperative measures may be arthroscopic. One advantage is the capability of the surgeon to fully assess the elbow intra-articularly. Second, the incision is often considered less appealing to both patients and surgeons than portal-site incisions. A final potential benefit is the opportunity for the occasional elbow arthroscopist to take advantage of a "best-case" clinical setting to perform a thorough arthroscopic diagnostic evaluation of both the anterior and posterior elbow compartments and improve his or her elbow arthroscopic skills, because patients with lateral epicondylitis rarely have advanced arthritis or capsular contractures and have infrequently undergone prior elbow surgery. Moreover, if technical difficulties arise during an arthroscopic release, the procedure can be easily converted to a standard open release technique without compromising the patient's condition or the procedure.