The effect of platelet-rich plasma injection on lateral epicondylitis following failed conservative management

Author(s): Mohd Irfan Banday and Jabreel Muzaffar

Abstract: Introduction: Pain from the lateral aspect of the elbow was first described in 1873, and has since then been given different names such as tennis elbow, lateral epicondylitis, epicondylitis, epicondylalgia and lateral elbow pain. The etiology and pathogenesis of tennis elbow is not known, but the condition is considered to be an overuse injury of degenerative nature (Jozsa and Kannus, 1997 et al.). The pathology found in tennis elbow is addressed to the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) muscle origin (Nirschl and Pettrone, 1979) Materials and Methods: 50 patients in the age group of 20 to 70 years of either sex presenting pain on the lateral epicondyle of either elbow after being clinically diagnosed as suffering from Lateral Epicondylitis / Tennis Elbow after having ruled out other possible causes of pain in this region presenting after 7 days of onset of pain with failed conservative management for 2 weeks attending OPD/ emergency of the Post Graduate department of Orthopaedics, GMC Jammu were included in this study. The response to treatment was graded using Oxford elbow score. Observations: In the present study of 50 patients there were 26 males and 24 females. In the present study of 50 patients the mean age was 43.98 years ( Range between 22 to 74 years). In this study it was observed that the pretreatment mean oxford elbow score was 38.32 (20.83-56.24) which improved to 46.73 (20.83-66.65) at 1 month, 58.60 (33.32-81.23) at 3 months and 70.15 (35.41-87.48) at 6 months. Discussion: Nonoperative treatment is successful in 95% of patients with tennis elbow. There have been several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that have compared autologous whole blood with PRP injection, autologous whole blood with steroid injection and PRP with steroid injection. However, results as to whether PRP, autologous whole blood or corticosteroids is more beneficial are still unclear. Conclusion PRP: improves pain and function in patients suffering from LE where conservative management has failed.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/ortho.2018.v4.i3a.07