Golfer's Elbow Embolization for Medial Epicondylitis

Golfer's elbow, or medial epicondylitis, causes pain on the inside of the elbow where the forearm's gripping and wrist-bending muscles attach. Like tennis elbow, most cases settle with time and conservative care. For the smaller group with stubborn pain, embolization is one option being explored. We want to be upfront: the research on golfer's elbow embolization is thinner than for tennis elbow. This page explains what is known, what is not, and who might reasonably consider it.

How golfer's elbow differs from tennis elbow

Golfer's elbow involves the common flexor-pronator tendon, which anchors several forearm muscles to the medial epicondyle, the bony bump on the inner elbow. It is less common than tennis elbow. In a Finnish population study of adults aged 30 to 64, about 0.4% had golfer's elbow at the time of examination, compared with 1.3% for tennis elbow. Smoking, obesity, repetitive movements and forceful activities were each linked to it.

Despite the name, golf is not the only cause. A 2026 clinical review lists golf, throwing and racquet sports, along with any work or activity that loads the wrist flexors repeatedly.

The inner elbow is also more crowded than the outer elbow. Two structures make diagnosis more complicated:

• The ulnar nerve runs just behind the medial epicondyle, which is why nerve symptoms, such as tingling in the ring and little fingers, often occur alongside golfer's elbow.
• The ulnar collateral ligament starts at the same bony bump and is commonly injured in throwing sports.

Because embolization targets the tendon area, it is important to know whether nerve or ligament problems are also part of your pain.

What the research shows for golfer's elbow embolization

The main study: 10 patients in Korea

The most detailed evidence comes from a 2022 study published in CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology. Researchers looked back at 10 patients who had 14 embolization procedures between 2018 and 2020 for golfer's elbow that had not improved with at least three months of conservative care.

• Success rate: 12 of 14 procedures (85.7%) met the study's definition of success, a drop of more than 70% in disability score at six months.
• Pain: average pain fell from 7.6 out of 10 to 3.6 at one day, 3.0 at three months and 0.9 at six months.
• Function: average QuickDASH disability score fell from 71.9 to 8.4 at six months.
• Durability: improvement lasted up to 12 months in nine patients.
• Safety: no major complications.

Most procedures used imipenem/cilastatin, a temporary embolic agent; the last two used dissolvable gelatin sponge particles.

Other evidence

• A 2020 German report described three patients treated with this approach, one of whom had golfer's elbow. Pain relief was reported from the first day, with no complications in that patient.
• In 2022, Dr. Yuji Okuno, who pioneered musculoskeletal embolization, published a letter discussing the possibility of embolization for golfer's elbow.
• A 2024 meta-analysis of tendon embolization included elbow flexor (golfer's elbow) cases among 74 patients overall and found substantial short-term pain reduction.

Being honest about the limits

For golfer's elbow, the evidence is genuinely early:

• The main study had only 10 patients and looked back at records rather than following a plan set in advance.
• There was no comparison group, so we cannot tell how much improvement would have happened anyway.
• Follow-up was a year at most.
• The registered U.S. study of elbow embolization (UCLA) is enrolling only tennis elbow patients, not golfer's elbow.

Tennis elbow has a somewhat larger body of evidence, including a two-year prospective study. A 2026 review of tendon embolization noted that the strongest evidence so far is for frozen shoulder and Achilles tendinopathy, with randomized trials still needed across indications. You can compare across conditions in our research and success rates article.

This article is part of our Embolization Guide.

Who might consider it

Embolization for golfer's elbow may be worth discussing if:

• Your inner elbow pain has lasted six months or more and limits work, sport or daily tasks.
• You have tried a consistent strengthening program, activity changes and possibly an injection.
• Your exam and imaging point to the flexor-pronator tendon as the main pain source.
• You understand that the evidence is limited and are comfortable with that uncertainty.

It is less likely to help if your main problem is ulnar nerve irritation or a ligament tear. People with significant kidney disease, a severe contrast allergy, an active infection, an uncorrectable bleeding disorder, or pregnancy are generally not candidates. Our candidate guide explains these criteria in more detail; most apply to both sides of the elbow.

Conservative care for golfer's elbow

Before any procedure, the standard approach is rest from aggravating activities, a structured physical therapy program, and gradual strengthening. A 2026 systematic review of eccentric exercise for golfer's elbow (5 studies, 143 patients) found it may reduce pain and improve function, particularly as part of a broader program, though the certainty of evidence was low. The same review noted that golfer's elbow is less studied than tennis elbow overall.

What treatment and recovery are like

The procedure itself is similar to tennis elbow embolization. A catheter is guided through an artery, often at the wrist, to the small branches supplying the inner elbow, and tiny particles are delivered to reduce blood flow to abnormal vessels. The inner elbow is supplied by different branches than the outer elbow, so the vessels treated are different.

Expect soreness for several days. A 2025 safety study of 431 patients found that pain lasting more than a week after embolization was more common in the elbow than in other joints. In the golfer's elbow study, average pain had already fallen by about half on the first day, but the full benefit took up to six months. The recovery timeline covers what to expect week by week.

Questions specific to golfer's elbow

Because the inner elbow is more complex, a few questions are especially worth asking at a consultation:

• Has my ulnar nerve been checked, and do I need nerve testing?
• Does my imaging show a ligament injury or a tendon tear?
• Is there a visible area of increased blood flow around the tendon?
• How many golfer's elbow cases have you treated, and how did those patients do?
• If I have pain on both the inside and outside of the elbow, would both areas be treated?

Honest answers to these questions will tell you a lot about whether embolization is a sensible next step for you.

Warning signs not to ignore

Get prompt care for inner elbow pain after a fall or a pop, sudden weakness in the hand, new numbness in the ring and little fingers that is getting worse, or a hot, red, swollen elbow. After any embolization, a cold or pale hand, bleeding at the wrist, or skin that darkens over the forearm needs immediate attention.

For a full overview of elbow embolization, visit our main tennis elbow embolization page, or see how embolization is used in other joints in our embolization guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can embolization treat golfer's elbow?

Yes, it has been used for golfer's elbow, but the evidence is limited. The main study included 10 patients, with 12 of 14 procedures meeting the study's definition of success at six months.

Is the evidence as strong as for tennis elbow?

No. Golfer's elbow embolization has less research than tennis elbow embolization, which itself is still early. There are no randomized trials for either.

Will embolization help tingling in my fingers?

Probably not. Tingling in the ring and little fingers usually points to ulnar nerve irritation, which embolization does not treat. Your doctor will check for this.

Is golfer's elbow embolization different from tennis elbow embolization?

The technique is similar, but different small arteries are treated because the inner and outer elbow have separate blood supplies.

Keep Reading

• Tennis Elbow Embolization in Manhattan
• Is Tennis Elbow Embolization Covered by Insurance?
• Is Tennis Elbow Embolization Painful? What to Expect on Procedure Day
• Lateral Epicondylitis: The Diagnosis and Its Treatments, Explained
• Tennis Elbow Causes, Symptoms and Diagnosis
• Am I a Candidate for Tennis Elbow Embolization?
• Embolization Guide: knee, heel, shoulder, elbow and hip

Sources

1. Lee et al., CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology, 2022 — embolization for chronic medial epicondylitis (10 patients)
2. Okuno & Shibuya, CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology, 2022 — possibility of embolic treatment for medial epicondylitis (letter)
3. Katoh et al., RöFo, 2020 — transarterial periarticular embolization, initial experience in Germany
4. Epelboym et al., Skeletal Radiology, 2024 — systematic review and meta-analysis of tendinopathy embolization
5. Tahir et al., Cureus, 2026 — medial epicondylitis: presentation, diagnosis and management
6. Shiri et al., American Journal of Epidemiology, 2006 — prevalence and determinants of lateral and medial epicondylitis
7. See et al., Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2026 — eccentric exercise for medial epicondylitis, systematic review
8. Taheri Amin & Minko, Radiologie, 2026 — transarterial microembolization in tendinopathies, current state of research
9. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05325242 — Elbow Artery Embolization for Lateral Epicondylitis (UCLA)
10. van Zadelhoff et al., Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, 2025 — safety of 3 temporary embolic agents (431 patients)
11. AuntMinnie, 2019 — SIR report: interventional tennis elbow treatment reduces pain (procedure description)

Medically reviewed by David Fox, MD, FACS, RPVI. This article is general information, not a substitute for a medical evaluation.

Living with joint or tendon pain that hasn’t improved? Schedule a consultation with Dr. David Fox at Fox Vein & Vascular in Manhattan to find out whether embolization is right for you. Call (212) 362-3470 or request an appointment online.