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Our experts tackle a variety of topics in their own words
With Wimbledon now over, we are sure many people will dig out their racquets and jump on a court for a game. Hopefully people won’t suffer tennis elbow, but unfortunately it is a common condition.
Tennis elbow is a painful condition that causes discomfort down the outside of the elbow and reduced grip strength. Although it is common in tennis players it is certainly not exclusive to tennis players and affects many other people each year, particularly if their arms do a lot of repetitive activity. Often the pain starts out of the blue and is not necessarily associated with any trauma. The pain can be very debilitating and limit a person’s ability to do their daily activities, job and sport.
Tennis elbow is a problem with a small area of tendon at the outer side of the elbow just further down from the bony prominence that we can all feel on the outside of our elbow. The area of tendon becomes very sore and may become inflamed or even develop small tears. Fortunately, tendinopathies such as tennis elbow tend to resolve over the course of a year and rarely need surgery. The mainstay of treatment initially is painkillers and therapy which include eccentric strengthening exercises. A helpful video demonstrating these exercises can be found on my website www.tonycorner.com.
I also encourage patients to see a trained therapist who can support the patient through their recovery. Some patients find that a brace helps to control their symptoms. Occasionally patients may have an injection if they are really struggling with their symptoms despite therapy exercises and painkillers. If patients continue to have severe symptoms despite a long period of treatment, then a surgical release can be performed but only as a last resort!
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
Mr Tony Corner is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon whose clinical practice is dedicated to treating patients with problems of the shoulder, elbow and upper limb including impingement, rotator cuff tears, dislocations, frozen shoulder, arthritis, fractures, tendon and sports related injuries. He uses the latest techniques to treat these conditions and works closely with the patient’s therapist to ensure the best possible outcome and optimum recovery.
He qualified from St. Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College London and later underwent specialist Orthopaedic training in London (North West Thames Rotation). He subsequently underwent a one year UK advanced training fellowship in complex upper limb reconstruction of the shoulder, elbow, hand and wrist. In 2009 he was awarded the prestigious British Orthopaedic Association European Travelling Fellowship whereby he gained invaluable experience and training from 4 of the world’s leading shoulder surgeons in France, Italy and Switzerland. Following advanced training Mr Corner was appointed as a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust (Watford, St Albans and Hemel Hempstead Hospitals)in 2010.
Mr Tony Corner is a faculty member for courses held nationally to teach techniques of arthroscopic shoulder reconstructive surgery to other orthopaedic consultants and higher trainees. He has been an invited lecturer on the Mastership course in Orthopaedics held at the University of Warwick Medical School. Mr Corner is also an Editorial Reviewer for the ‘Shoulder & Elbow’ scientific journal.
