Academy News
Friday, February 23, 1996

ECRB Resection Proving to be Helpful in Tennis Elbow
A new successful procedure is proving to be successful in treating patients with tennis elbow problems.

Scientific Exhibit S 66 highlights how orthopedic surgeons are experiencing successful surgical outcomes by removing the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) tendon that helps individuals extend their wrist.

"Patients who had an ECRB resection showed remarkble improvement following the surgery," said study co-author Scott W. Organ, MD, attending orthopedic surgeon, Bristol Hospital, Bristol, Connecticut.

To analyze the success of an ECRB resection, Dr. Organ reviewed the medical records of 33 patients (35 elbows) who had undergone at least one prior surgery using a different technique to correct tennis elbow problems.

Twenty-nine of the patients had one prior surgery, and three patients had two or more surgeries to correct tennis elbow problems.

In 32 elbows, the unsuccessful initial procedure was an extensor tendon slide technique; two elbows had a radial nerve decompression; and one elbow had an ECRB resection.

The patients were then treated by the senior orthopedic surgeon, Robert P. Nirschl, MD, MS. Associate clinical professor of orthopedic surgery, Georgetown University, Washington, D. C. Dr, Nirschl removed the unhealthy ECRB tendon. "After surgery, new healthy tissue gradually develops making the injured elbow, in most instances, pain free," said Dr. Organ.

Eighty-five percent of the patients who had the unsuccessful initial procedure experienced marked improvement, said Dr. Organ. "Removing the unhealthy tissue, usually the ECRB tendon, should become the accepted initial procedure for individuals complaining of tennis elbow problems."

Co-authors of the study, with Dr. Organ and Dr. Nirschl are Andrew Siekanowicz, MD, and Eric J. Guidi, MD, both attending orthopedic surgeons, Virginia Hospital Center Arlington, Arlington, Virginia.

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