A single blinded randomised controlled trial: To evaluate the efficacy of local autologous blood injection versus local corticosteroid injection for treatment of lateral epicondylitis

Aims and Objectives: To compare pain outcome measures, number of patients completely relieved of pain, post injection exacerbation of pain, recurrent rates and complication rates in both the groups.

Methods and Trial Design: A single blinded randomized controlled trial was undertaken.61 patients of untreated lateral epicondylitis were enrolled. A randomization coding system derived from a computer generated randomization table was followed. Both groups were evaluated at 1^st week, 4^th week and 12^th weeks for pain relief and stage of disease, complete relief of pain, recurrent rates, post injection exacerbation of pain, complication rates.

Results: Follow-up done for total 12 weeks divided in to intervals at 1^st week, 4^th week, and 12^th week. At 1^st week corticosteroid injection group showed a statistically significant decrease in pain compared to autologous blood injection group. At 4^th week both group patients had decrease in pain but statistically not significant when compared to each other. At 12th week follow up autologous blood injection group showed statistically significant decrease in pain compared to corticosteroid injection group. In corticosteroid injection group at 12^th week 6.89% had complete relief of pain and in autologous blood group 19.35% patients had complete relief of pain. Rate of recurrence 21.42% in corticosteroid group, no patient had recurrence in autologous blood group. 26% patients in corticosteroid group had post injection exacerbation of pain and in autologous blood injection group 58.06% had pain, which was statistically significant.

Conclusions: Autologous blood injection was more effective than steroid injection in the short term follow up in tennis elbow.