The FDA granted approval for use of the HealthTronics OssaTron® device for performing extracorporeal shock wave treatment for chronic lateral epicondylitis or tennis elbow that has failed to respond to conservative (nonsurgical) treatment. Tennis elbow is considered chronic if it has continued for six months without relief from treatments such as strapping, icing, stretching, strengthening, and anti-inflammatory medication or injections.

Special training is required to use the OssaTron equipment, which generates and administers high-energy shock waves while the patient is under local or regional anesthetic. Thomas E. Knox is trained to use the OssaTron for the treatment of tennis elbow.

Argil Wheelock, CEO of HealthTronics, which produces the OssaTron device, said, "This approval is a major step forward in our goal to establish the OssaTron as the most effective choice for the treatment of a wide variety of chronic orthopaedic conditions."

In tennis elbow, tendons attached to the outside (lateral) of the elbow are inflamed. The inflammation results from repetitive activities in which the tendons are overstressed, such as in sports or activities requiring constant squeezing or gripping. Pain, which may radiate to the forearm and hand, occurs with grasping activities. The condition may be difficult to eradicate because the tendons are used every time the hand grips or squeezes.

Instead of surgery for tennis elbow, with recovery ranging up to several months, OssaTron shock wave treatment (orthotripsy) may result in immediate pain relief, although it can take up to four weeks for pain relief to begin. The shock wave treatment increases blood flow and stimulates healing of the affected elbow. Orthotripsy was developed in Europe using the same technology used on kidney stones (lithotripsy).

Prior to FDA approval, a study of 225 patients resulted in 90 percent of the treated patients receiving a benefit from orthotripsy and 64 percent having an excellent or good outcome. The study was multi-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, and doubled-blinded. The device is also under study for use on other chronic tendon injuries.

Regional Orthopaedic Health Care has offices in Mountain Home at 3 Medical Plaza, phone (870) 424-3400, and in Harrison at Regions Bank Bldg, Suite 202, phone 1-800-621-3218. Patients do not need a referral to make an appointment with a physician at Regional Orthopaedic Health Care.

Regional Orthopaedic Health Care provides bone and joint disease evaluation, treatment and surgery, arthroscopic joint surgery, open and endoscopic carpal tunnel release, sports medicine, laser surgery, hand and shoulder therapy, in-office nerve conduction studies, evaluation of hand and wrist injuries, isokinetic exercise equipment, industrial orthopaedics, physical and occupational therapy.