Study Reveals Effective New Treatment for ''Tennis Elbow''; Arthroscopy Journal Publishes Study Results: Pain Relief Achieved for All Subjects.

SAN DIEGO -- Two-year study data published this month in Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery has revealed the use of a radiofrequency-based technology known as TOPAZ to be effective in the treatment of chronic lateral epicondylitis, the condition commonly known as "tennis elbow."

The study, titled "Microtenotomy Using a Radiofrequency Probe to Treat Lateral Epicondylitis," consisted of thirteen subjects - all patients of the San Diego Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics Center (SDSM) - who had been suffering from the symptoms of tennis elbow for six months or longer. Each of the patients had failed to achieve relief after conservative treatment, yet each reported "significantly reduced" pain only seven to 10 days after TOPAZ procedures. In fact, 10 of the 13 subjects reported noticeable reduction in pain only one or two days after the procedure.

"Our findings from the study demonstrate this procedure is technically simple to perform and is associated with a rapid and uncomplicated recovery," said SDSM founder James P. Tasto, MD, one of the study's authors and Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at UCSD. "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, post-op. Treatment utilizing the TOPAZ MicroDebrider offers a new, minimally invasive alternative for millions of patients for whom conservative therapies have failed."

Tennis elbow is a degenerative condition of the tendon fibers that attach on the bony prominence (epicondyle) on the outside (lateral side) of the elbow. The tendons involved are responsible for anchoring the muscles that extend or lift the wrist and hand. Patients often complain of severe, burning pain on the outside part of the elbow. In most cases, the pain starts in a mild and slow fashion. It gradually worsens over weeks or months.

"This study's results are particularly meaningful because they center around a technology and treatment that have the opportunity to help a large population," Tasto said. "Tennis elbow is the most common injury among patients seeking help for elbow pain. It should also be noted that over the same period of time that our data was collected for this particular study, patients with tendinosis of the medial epicondyle of the elbow (a different elbow tendon condition), the Achilles and patellar tendons were also treated with TOPAZ - and yielded similar results. I see great promise for this technology in an array of applications."

Utilizing the science of Coblation technology, the TOPAZ MicroDebrider, developed by Sunnyvale, Calif.-based ArthroCare Corp. (NASDAQ:ARTC), is a wand-like device about the diameter of a pencil tip. Through a small incision, generally an inch in length, the physician applies the device to the problem tendon for multiple 500 millisecond intervals of treatment. By combining low temperature radiofrequency energy with saline, a charged plasma gas is formed at the tip of the TOPAZ wand and is precisely directed into and through the damaged tissues. From start to finish, the whole process takes less than 20 minutes.

In earlier studies performed in conjunction with David Amiel, Ph.D., Professor of Orthopaedics at UCSD, it was previously shown that two important angiogenic growth factors are stimulated following 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," said Amiel. "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."

Tennis elbow happens mostly in patients between the ages of 30 to 50 years, but can occur in any age group. Most of the time, there is not a specific traumatic injury before symptoms start. Many individuals with tennis elbow are involved in work, sports or recreational activities that require repetitive and vigorous use of the forearm muscles. Some patients develop tennis elbow without any specific recognizable activity leading to symptoms.

"In most cases of tennis elbow, nonoperative treatment should be tried before surgery," Tasto said. "Pain relief is the main goal. Unfortunately, for many individuals, conservative treatment is not enough. With TOPAZ, we now have a relatively simple alternative we can offer these patients."

More information about the TOPAZ technology used in the study is available at www.TOPAZinfo.com.

ABOUT SAN DIEGO SPORTS MEDICINE & ORTHOPAEDIC CENTER

San Diego Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center (SDSM), founded by James P. Tasto, M.D., is an internationally recognized orthopaedic surgery center. All SDSM partners have passed the Board Examinations for the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS) and have met their rigorous standards to become Board Certified. All staff physicians are diplomats of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and are members of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, as well as many other medical and orthopedic specialty societies. As well as its day-to-day treatment of patients for all manner of orthopaedic concerns, SDSM focuses on cutting-edge techniques and the development of research studies in areas of emerging new surgical techniques for better outcomes and faster rehabilitation; faster healing responses; and the development of new instruments and devices to improve surgical techniques.