Tennis Elbow Surgery in Bengaluru Rural

Tennis elbow results from repetitive and forceful arm movements that lead to small, painful tears in the tendons around the elbow.

This condition is commonly associated with sports like tennis or other racquet sports, but it can also arise from activities that involve repetitive motions, such as using a wrench, extended periods of typing, or frequent chopping motions with a knife. The tendons on the outside (lateral) of the elbow are most often affected, although tendons on the inside (medial) and the back (posterior) of the elbow can also sustain injuries from different types of activities. The condition may be exacerbated if these tendons experience further trauma.

Tennis elbow surgery is typically performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning you may not need to stay in the hospital overnight.

Before the surgery, you will receive a sedative to help you relax and feel drowsy, along with a local anesthetic administered to your arm to block pain during the procedure.

Depending on the approach, you might be awake or under general anesthesia, which allows you to sleep through the surgery.

In open surgery, the surgeon makes a single incision over the affected tendon. The damaged part of the tendon is removed, and the tendon may be repaired using a technique called a suture anchor, or it might be stitched to adjacent tendons. After the surgery, the incision is closed with stitches.

Alternatively, the surgery can be performed using an arthroscope, a slender instrument equipped with a camera and light, allowing for smaller incisions. Just like in open surgery, you will receive medication to relax and numb the area. The surgeon inserts the arthroscope through small incisions to view the elbow on a video monitor and remove the damaged tissue from the tendon.

Surgery may be necessary if you:

• Have pursued other treatments for at least three months
• Experience pain that restricts your activities

Before considering surgery, you should explore the following treatments:

• Reduce or modify activities and sports to allow your arm to rest.
• Adjust the equipment used in your sport, such as altering the grip size of your racket or the weights you lift.
• Change the tools you use if they cause discomfort.
• Modify your sports training schedule or duration.
• Perform pain-relief exercises as advised by your doctor or physical therapist.
• Implement ergonomic changes at your workplace to improve your seating position and the way you use equipment.
• Wear elbow splints or braces to rest your muscles and tendons.
• Receive cortisone steroid injections, administered by your healthcare provider.

• Effective Pain Relief: This procedure directly removes the source of pain—damaged tendon tissue—offering significant pain relief.
• Improved Function: Restoring the normal attachment of the tendons helps to return strength and stability to the elbow joint, improving overall arm function.
• High Success Rates: Open surgery for tennis elbow has a high success rate in patients who do not respond to conservative treatments.

After undergoing surgery for tennis elbow, the recovery process and what you can expect may vary depending on the type of surgery performed—open or arthroscopic—and your individual health profile. Here are some general aspects of what you can expect post-surgery:

• Pain Management: Immediately following the surgery, you will experience some pain and discomfort. Your doctor will prescribe pain relief medication to manage this. It's important to follow the medication schedule to maintain comfort and manage inflammation.
• Wearing a Splint or Brace: Your arm may be immobilized with a splint or brace to keep your elbow in a fixed position. This helps in the healing of the surgical site by minimizing strain on the repaired tendons.
• Physical Therapy: Once the initial healing phase is over, physical therapy is typically recommended to restore flexibility and strength to your forearm muscles. This is crucial for regaining function and reducing the risk of future injuries.
• Activity Restrictions: You will need to avoid heavy lifting and the use of the affected arm for several weeks. Gradually, as healing progresses, you'll be able to reintroduce more activities under the guidance of your healthcare provider.
• Recovery Time: The total recovery time can vary widely among patients, but many can expect to return to normal activities within a few months. Full recovery and return to sports or other strenuous activities might take longer, typically ranging from 4 to 6 months.