Radiofrequency procedure effective for tennis elbow at two years

Pain reductions had stabilized at seven to 10 days following treatment.

Microdebridement performed using radiofrequency energy effectively treats chronic lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, according to a study by San Diego researchers.

James P. Tasto, MD, and colleagues at the University of California-San Diego (UCSD) Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center, conducted the prospective, nonrandomized study. The researchers evaluated microtenotomy, performed using the Topaz Microdebrider device (ArthroCare Corp.), in 13 patients ranging in age from 38 to 59 years. All patients had tendinosis symptoms that had persisted for at least six months and had failed conservative treatment.

Topaz is a coablation device, which combines low-temperature radiofrequency (RF) energy with saline to generate a charged plasma gas at the tip of the device's wand. This charged plasma gas is then precisely directed into and through damaged tissues to debride small amounts of the tissue. Treatments are applied for about a 500-millisecond duration and are spaced about a quarter-inch apart in a grid-like pattern, according to the company.

In their study, the researchers found patients reported significant improvements in pain levels, measured using the Visual Analog Scale, seven to 10 days following treatment (P<.01). These pain reductions statistically stabilized at seven to 10 days follow-up through to final follow-up at two years, according to the study.

“Our findings from the study demonstrate this procedure is technically simple to perform and is associated with a rapid and uncomplicated recovery,” Tasto said in the press release.

“Pain relief was achieved rapidly in all participating patients and diminished even further with time. Based upon our results, the procedure is safe and effective for at least two years postop,” he added.

Earlier studies performed in conjunction with David Amiel, PhD, a professor of orthopedics at UCSD, showed two important angiogenic growth factors are stimulated by the Topaz treatment.

“Essentially, what we’ve learned is that when Topaz is applied to tendons in the laboratory environment, the coblation microdebridement induces a healing response,” Amiel said in the press release. “The process, in effect, ‘re-boots’ the body’s own mechanism for repair. During our studies, we've been able to demonstrate an increase in several growth factors, which have been shown to participate in the healing process.”

The study was published in Arthroscopy.

For more information:
Tasto JP, Cummings J, Medlock V, et al. Microtenotomy using a radiofrequency probe to treat lateral epicondylitis. Arthroscopy. 2005;21:851-860.