Anconeus muscle transposition for chronic lateral epicondylitis, recurrences, and complications

Abstract

The use of the anconeus muscle in the treatment of chronic lateral epicondylitis (CLE), recurrences, and infection is presented. In chronic lateral epicondylitis, a wide degenerative area of epicondyle tendon is not frequently found, but when it occurs, its treatment is quite difficult. Recurrences of CLE and superficial or articular infections of the radiohumeral joint after surgical treatment or cortisone infiltrations are 2 more major conditions in which the use of anconeus muscle transposition demonstrated to be a promising technique. The procedure is widely described based on personal experience of 13 cases, 8 of which were CLE (group 1), and 5 recurrences and infection (group 2). Rotation of this muscle close to the epicondyle makes it possible to cover the epicondyle bone and the exposed radiohumeral joint in all cases. Additional surgical time usually requires only an extra 15 minutes. At the mean follow-up of 74 and 55 months, all the patients of the first group were painless, and the patients of the second group showed a decrease in pain from 9 to 3. Patients of the 2 groups returned to their previous work with a complete recovery of elbow range of motion and grip strength.