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RecruitingNCT02236689Updated Nov 13, 2023

Comparing Arthroscopic Tennis Elbow Release With Arthroscopic Debridement

An interventional study of Non operative and Arthroscopic tennis elbow release in Tennis Elbow, sponsored by Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. Recruiting at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 90 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-11-13.

Sponsored by Ottawa Hospital Research Institute · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was expected by Jun 2025, 1 year 4 months ago, but the record still lists the study as recruiting.
  • Started Apr 2016; still recruiting 10 years 6 months later.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
68
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 90 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

We propose a randomized, double-blind controlled trial comparing arthroscopic release with arthroscopic debridement for the management of chronic tennis elbow in an effort to definitively determine whether arthroscopic tennis elbow release is an effective treatment of tennis elbow, and to further provide better recommendations for the use of this procedure, in an effort to improve patient care.

Read the detailed description

Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) is a common occurrence in the general population with an incidence of 4-7/1000/year. More recent literature describes a 1-3% rate over the course of a lifetime, most typically affecting individuals between the ages of 35 and 50.

Tennis elbow is a common occurrence in the general population that causes lateral elbow pain and diminished grip strength, which may be debilitating. Most affected individuals achieve symptom resolution within 6 months to 1 year with measures such as physiotherapy, anti-inflammatories and corticosteroid injections, but a small subset will go on to develop chronic symptoms. Chronic tennis elbow can be treated surgically, by arthroscopic tennis elbow release (ATER), which has gained popularity in recent years as it presents a less invasive option, allows for direct visualization of the elbow joint for other pathology and has a faster return-to-work time compared to other surgical procedures. Despite its promise there have been no high quality studies evaluating the efficacy of arthroscopic tennis elbow release, bringing the actual efficacy of this procedure into question. A randomized controlled trial on arthroscopic tennis elbow release would provide much needed evidence in order to define its role in the management of tennis elbow and to help refine treatment protocols.

02

Conditions studied

  • Tennis Elbow

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03

In context

Tennis Elbow

284 studies on the registry are indexed under Tennis Elbow; 60 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 68 is above the median of 50 across 253 interventional studies indexed under Tennis Elbow.

Browse Tennis Elbow studies →

Lead sponsor

Ottawa Hospital Research Institute is the lead sponsor of 538 studies on the registry; 100 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 90 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Symptoms consistent with lateral epicondylitis persisting for >6 months, and have failed conservative management
  • Adult, skeletally mature (>18yrs)
  • Provision of informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Alternative diagnosis that better explain their symptoms
  • Previous elbow trauma or surgery
  • Case involving workplace insurance claims (e.g. WSIB)
  • Unwilling, or unlikely in the opinion of the investigator to be followed for the duration of the study (e.g., patient refusal, unfixed address, plans to move...etc.)
  • Cognitive difficulties that prevent ability to provide informed consent and reliable completion of questionnaires
  • Bilateral lateral epicondylitis
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
68 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Arthroscopic tennis elbow release

    This group will have arthroscopic tennis elbow release through a standard, two-portal technique,

    Procedure: Arthroscopic tennis elbow release

  • Placebo comparator
    Non Operative

    control group will not undergo a second portal or muscle release.

    Procedure: Non operative

Interventions

  • ProcedureNon operative

    no surgical intervention

  • ProcedureArthroscopic tennis elbow release

    Patients randomized to Arthroscopic tennis elbow release (ATER) will receive arthroscopic release of the origin of the extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon through a standard, two-portal arthroscopic technique (medial and lateral).

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Mayo Elbow Performance Score

    The Mayo Elbow Performance score is an outcome measure specific to the elbow to assess activities of daily living (ADLs). This outcome measure consists of 4 subscales: pain, range of motion, stability and daily function. Each section is combined for a total score out of 100 points. A higher score, indicates a better outcome.

    Time frame: From baseline to up until 24-Months Post-Operative

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH)

    The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), is a questionnaire that measures physical function and symptoms in those with an upper extremity disorder. The DASH is a 30 item questionnaire, each question is rated using a Likert scale. The question points are combined for a total of 100 points. A higher score indicates a worse outcome.

    Time frame: From baseline to up until 24-Months Post-Operative

  2. Change in American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Elbow (ASES)

    The ASES is a shoulder specific assessment divided into two sections: pain and activities of daily living (ADL). Pain is recorded on a visual analogue scale (0-10), lower scores indicate better outcomes. There are 10 activities of daily living questions, each are recorded on a 4 level likert scale (0-3), which a higher score indicates a better outcome. The overall score is an equal weight of the two sections and produces a score out of 100. The higher the score, the better the outcome.

    Time frame: From baseline to up until 24-Months Post-Operative

  3. Change in Oxford Elbow Score (OES)

    The Oxford Elbow Score (OES) is an outcome measure specific to patients who have had elbow surgery. The OES consists of 12 questions, looking into 3 domains: elbow function, pain, and social-psychological, using a Likert scale. Questions are summed, for a total score of 100 points. A higher score indicates a better outcome.

    Time frame: From time of enrollment up until 2-years post-operative

  4. Change in Grip Strength

    Grip strength will be measured using a hand-held dynamometer. Each participant will be asked to squeeze as much as they are comfortably able for approximately 3 seconds. 3 trials will be completed on each hand. Results will be averaged, and recorded in kilograms. Higher strength is a better outcome.

    Time frame: From time of enrollment up until 2-years post-operative

  5. Adverse Events

    Rates of study adverse events or serious adverse events (e.g. number of reoperations) will be monitored and recorded and compared between study groups. A higher rate of adverse events indicates a worse outcome.

    Time frame: Ongoing from time of enrollment, up until 24-months post-operative

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • The Ottawa Hospital, General Campus
    Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8L6, Canada
    • J Pollock, MD · Contact · 613-737-8899
    • J W Pollock, MD · Principal investigator
    Recruiting
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Matache BA, Berdusco R, Momoli F, Lapner PL, Pollock JW. A randomized, double-blind sham-controlled trial on the efficacy of arthroscopic tennis elbow release for the management of chronic lateral epicondylitis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2016 Jun 1;17:239. doi: 10.1186/s12891-016-1093-9. PubMed 27245219 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 13, 2023, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02236689
Lead sponsor
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Sep 10, 2014
Start date
Apr 2016
Primary completion
Jun 2025 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 2025 (estimated)
Last update
Nov 13, 2023

Study contacts

J W Pollock, MD
Contact
613-737-8899 ext. 73031
Katie McIlquham
Contact
613-737-8899 ext. 79839
J W Pollock, MD
principal investigator · The Ottawa Hospital

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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