K-pop group Seventeen’s Jeonghan undergoes operation for tennis elbow


Jeonghan, member of K-pop group Seventen, underwent an operation due to his elbow injury.

Pledis Entertainment, the group’s agency, announced on June 17 that “Jeonghan has been receiving conservative treatment such as receiving injections for an infection and damage in his outer tendon on his right elbow.”

Seventeen's Jeonghan (left) and a video demonstration on where the pain occurs if one has tennis elbow (Pledis Entertainment, screenshot from Johns Hopkins Medicine website/ViewMedica)

Illustration of tennis elbow (Screenshots from screenshot from Johns Hopkins Medicine website/ViewMedica)

“Jeonghan recently visited the hospital due to increased pain in his elbow and received word from the medical staff that his lateral epicondylitis and tendon damage has worsened. It has been determined that surgery was needed which he received on Wednesday the 15th,” it said.

It added, “The operation was successful, and the artist has been recuperating after being discharged as of Thursday the 16th. Jeonghan will be wearing a cast for the time being, as well as a brace in order to protect the treated area, and to aid in a faster recovery.”

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website, lateral epicondylitis, or commonly called tennis elbow, “is a painful condition of the elbow caused by overuse."

“Tennis elbow is inflammation or, in some cases, microtearing of the tendons that join the forearm muscles on the outside of the elbow. The forearm muscles and tendons become damaged from overuse — repeating the same motions again and again. This leads to pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow,” it said.

The website stated that the symptoms of tennis elbow are “pain or burning on the outer part of your elbow, weak grip strength and sometimes, pain at night.”

It added that surgical treatment is needed “if your symptoms do not respond after 6 to 12 months of nonsurgical treatments.”

“Most surgical procedures for tennis elbow involve removing diseased muscle and reattaching healthy muscle back to bone. The most common approach to tennis elbow repair is open surgery. This involves making an incision over the elbow. Open surgery is usually performed as an outpatient surgery. It rarely requires an overnight stay at the hospital.”

It said, “Tennis elbow can also be repaired using miniature instruments and small incisions. Like open surgery, this is a same-day or outpatient procedure.

According to Pledis, Jeonghan “is highly determined to attend all of the group’s prearranged engagements; however, his participation will be adjusted depending on the circumstances, placing his recovery as the top most priority as per recommended by the medical staff.”

“As such, Jeonghan will be participating in the group’s prearranged activities including the SEVENTEEN WORLD TOUR in his cast and brace while continuously receiving medical consultations, so long as it does not put too much strain on his recovery. We ask our fans for your kind consideration,” it said.