Surgery for tennis elbow takes out damaged parts of tendons from the elbow. Your doctor may also reattach healthy tendon to the bone. Tendons connect muscle to bone.
Your doctor will make one small cut, called an incision, over the bony area on the outside of your elbow. He or she will then take out the damaged part of the tendon. Your doctor will close the incision with stitches or staples. The incision will leave a scar that usually fades over time.
After surgery, you may go through a rehabilitation program (rehab). After rehab, you will probably be able to use your elbow and arm without pain. You probably will be able to return to normal activities, such as playing tennis and other sports.
You will go home on the day of the surgery. You should be able to return to daily activities in about 2 to 6 weeks. How soon you can go back to work depends on your job. You should be able to play sports again in 4 to 6 months. You may need a brace at work. You also may need a brace when you play sports that stress the elbow and forearm, such as tennis.
Various surgical procedures are used to treat tennis elbow. Some surgical research exists. But there are no published, controlled trials that either strongly support or discourage the use of any one procedure or prove that surgery is better than other treatment.
Most people are able to return to their previous activities after tennis elbow surgery. Be sure to change any previous technique, equipment, or activity that has been linked to the elbow pain.
Surgery can be stressful. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for surgery.
The risks of surgery for tennis elbow include:
Recovery varies from person to person. It usually takes at least 3 to 6 months to recover completely.
You will have some pain. Your doctor can give you medicine for this. A large bandage will cover your stitches (sutures). Your arm may be in a splint or a cast. These are all removed in about 7 to 10 days. You may have a smaller splint for about 2 weeks. You will not be able to use your arm during this time. You will need help doing anything that usually takes two hands.
You will need a rehabilitation program (rehab) that includes exercises to stretch and strengthen the elbow. Your doctor will advise you when to do gentle range-of-motion or gripping exercises after surgery. You will first have training and help, and then you will do the program on your own. Your exercises may be painful at first. In 3 to 6 months, the pain should go away, and you should have good movement in your elbow. You may need to do strength exercises for as long as 1 year.
You will be able to return to daily activities in about 2 to 6 weeks. You can go back to work in 3 to 12 weeks, depending on your job. You should be able to play sports again in 4 to 6 months. You may need a brace at work and when you play sports that stress the elbow and forearm, such as tennis.
You and your doctor may consider surgery if:
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