Abstract: Introduction: Chronic tennis elbow poses a common and often unsatisfactorily addressed clinical challenge. Biologic therapies, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, designed to stimulate healing in degenerative tendons by releasing growth factors, exhibit promise in vitro studies, yet clinical research remains limited. This study aims to assess the efficacy of PRP in chronic tennis elbow, providing insights into the outcomes of this contemporary treatment modality.
Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed with chronic tennis elbow, having undergone at least 3 months of unsuccessful conservative treatment, were included after securing written informed consent. PRP, prepared through centrifugation, was administered under ultrasonography guidance at the tendinopathy site within a 4-hour timeframe. Patient evaluation employed the Visual Analogue Score (VAS) and Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) at intervals of 4, 8, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year.
Results: A cohort of 28 patients meeting inclusion criteria received PRP treatment. The majority exhibited notable improvement in VAS and MEPS scores, with a concurrent ability to return to work within the 12-week follow-up period.
Conclusion: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) emerges as a potential therapeutic avenue for chronic tennis elbow. Future research endeavors should focus on pinpointing optimal treatment timing, dosage, and the ideal concentration of PRP for enhanced efficacy.
