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Autologous platelet injection improved function in patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis more than gold standard, corticosteroids
Peerbooms JC, Sluimer J, Bruijn DJ, Gosens T. Am J Sports Med. 2010;38(2):255-262.
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As a treatment for chronic lateral epicondylitis in patients, a single injection of concentrated autologous platelets improved pain and function more than a corticosteroid injection, according to investigators from the Netherlands.
Joost C. Peerbooms, MD, and colleagues conducted a randomized controlled trial that included 100 patients with lateral epicondylitis who had failed nonoperative treatment; 51 patients were randomized to receive an autologous platelet concentrate injection, and the remaining 49 patients received a corticosteroid injection.
The research appears in the February 2010 issue of The American Journal of Sports Medicine.
The investigators defined successful treatment as a reduction greater than 25% in the Visual Analog Score or DASH Outcomes Measure score without further treatment after 1 year. Statistically significant differences were seen when successful treatment rates were compared between the two groups.
According to the visual analog score, 24 of 29 patients (49%) in the corticosteroid group and 37 of 51 patients (73%) in the autologous platelet group were successful (P < .001). According to the DASH scores, 25 of 49 patients (51%) in the corticosteroid group and 37 of 51 patients (73%) were successful (P = .005). The authors wrote, “The corticosteroid group was better initially and then declined, whereas the PRP group progressively improved.”
They concluded that treatment of patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis with an autologous platelet concentrate reduces pain and significantly increases function more so than corticosteroid injection.
“Perhaps for athletes it is less optimal, but all depends on the demands of the patient,” the authors noted, recommending that future decisions for treatment of chronic lateral epicondylitis be confirmed by further follow-up from this trial.