When is elbow surgery necessary?

The symptoms of tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis can be felt outside the elbow. You develop tennis elbow if the elbow tendon has been damaged due to repetitive twisting movements of the arm. People who play racket sports are most at risk for this injury, but so are people with occupations that involve making repetitive motions with the wrist and arm. A common misconception is that only athletes are suspectable to this injury. This is not true! Even activities like gardening can also result in tennis elbow.

The more you keep doing the activity that caused it, the worse the condition can get. Rest is important to recovering from tennis elbow. While the condition can heal with conservative methods of treatment, especially mild cases, elbow surgery may be necessary for those with chronic and severe symptoms.

Considerations For Elbow Surgery

Severe pain is a major consideration for elbow surgery – especially if the pain has turned chronic and has lasted over six months even with treatment. Another common reason for elbow surgery is if you can’t move about the house and do your work without being bothered by the pain. Another consideration for surgery is when minimally-invasive pain management techniques, such as corticosteroid injections, no longer provide adequate relief.

Elbow surgery may be necessary for severe or chronic tennis elbow that can be repaired by removing the inflamed tissue and either cutting the tendon and releasing it or repairing a tear. A doctor will recommend the procedure if diagnostic imaging reveals tendon degeneration that has no ability to repair itself, tendon tearing where the tendon separates from the bone, and the formation of painful bone spurs.

Elbow surgery may be performed with a minimally-invasive approach, using an arthroscope. The doctor makes several small incisions to remove the damaged tissue, release scar tissue that may be blocking motion, and repair the tendon.

Why You Need Elbow Surgery

Not being able to use your arm and hand normally because of elbow pain is no fun. It can also limit your ability to do things small and important. Even shaking hands or opening a jar can become very difficult with a tennis elbow. If you want to get back the normal function of your elbow, talk to an orthopedic surgeon specializing in treating elbow conditions. If not elbow surgery, an orthopedic doctor can provide other options for treatment.

Elbow Surgery in Catonsville, Columbia, and Eldersburg, Maryland

If your tennis elbow injury is not healing as it should, have an orthopedic surgeon at Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland evaluate your condition and inform you of the treatment options available to you.

Our orthopedists specializing in hand and upper extremity surgery are highly skilled in treating patients with elbow and shoulder injuries using arthroscopic techniques. For our patients’ complete rehabilitation, we also provide physical therapy services, which are available on site.

If you have questions or would like to make an appointment with an orthopedic doctor, call (410) 644-1880, or use our online request form. Our friendly staff looks forward to serving you.