Biologic Treatment for the Elbow Tendinopathy

Abstract

Although elbow tendinopathy is the one of common diseases causing elbow pain, ideal nonoperative treatment to provide long-term satisfaction has not been introduced. Recently, there is significant interest in biological treatment to facilitate the healing environment and tissue proliferation in elbow tendinopathy. Biological agents such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or stem cells are likely to be established as one of the nonoperative treatment methods that can have long-term therapeutic effects in the future, given their theoretical basis. Despite many previous studies using biological agents such as PRP and stem cells in the elbow, its beneficial effect on elbow tendinopathy is controversial. Thus, the purpose of this review is to provide an evidence-based summary of the biologic agent for treating elbow tendinopathy and to identify areas where further research is warranted.