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Autologous conditioned plasma, placebo likely equally effective in relieving pain of epicondylitis
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LAS VEGAS — A cohort of patients that underwent autologous conditioned plasma treatment exhibited similar reductions in epicondylitis pain to that seen in patients who received placebo injections, according to data presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting.
Investigators evaluated 25 patients with a mean age of 47 years who underwent autologous conditioned plasma (ACP) treatment for epicondylitis between 2011 and 2012. The patients were matched to a group of 25 controls with a mean age of 46.4 years who underwent saline treatment. Both cohorts received ultrasound-guided injections at 4 week intervals.
Investigators analyzed change in pain score from baseline to 6 months after treatment as the primary metric analyzed, according to the study abstract. The tracked pain assessment on isometric contraction of the second radial and of the extensor digitorum communis, persistent pain proportion and Roles-Maudsley score results.
Mathieu Ferrand
“The potential stimulating role of ultrasound-guided intra-tendinous injections may affect tendon repair,” Mathieu Ferrand, MD, said in presenting the results.
The mean improvement in pain was 63.2 in the ACP cohort and 69.7 in the control cohort, a difference that was not statistically significant. No adverse-effects were seen in either group; 34% and 66% of patients overall asymptomatic at 6 months and 1 year after treatment, respectively. Pain scores at baseline in the ACP and control cohorts were 6.8 points and 7.1 points, and they decreased significantly at follow-up time points of 6 months to 2.5 points and 2.1 points, respectively, and of 1 year to 1.65 points and 1.8 points, respectively. – by Christian Ingram
Reference:
Hardy P, et al. Paper #292. Presented at: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting; March 24-28, 2015; Las Vegas.
Disclosure: Hardy receives royalties from and is a paid consultant to Zimmer and he is a paid speaker and consultant to Arthrex. He reports he receives research support from Ceraver Osteal and financial and material support from OTSR.