Injection of platelet rich plasma versus corticosteroid injection in the treatment of tennis elbow: A prospective randomized comparative study

Abstract

Lateral epicondylitis is common tendinopathy for which various modalities of treatment have been advised for short term relief but the enigma continues. Local steroid injection has been commonly used for short term relief. This study was done to know the efficacy of autologous platelet rich plasma in the treatment of tennis elbow over a period of 6 months. This was a radomised study where patients were selected randomly and allocated two groups with group A being given local methylprednisolone 80 mg injection and group B given autolougous PRP injections locally. 25 patients were allocated in each group. One patient was lost during follow up in each groups leaving only 24 patients in each group. All patients were evaluated with VAS and nirschl staging before injection and at 1 week, 2 months and 6 months follow-up. A comparison of VAS and nirschl staging showed better results with steroid group at 1 week follow up and the results being significant as per P value, while at the 2 months follow up the results were similar in both groups with PRP group slightly better though p value was insignificant. When results were compared at 6 months follow up the PRP group showed much better results than steroid group and that is because of no recurrence of cases in PRP group while we have few recurrences in steroid group. This study shows steroid shows early resolution of symptoms with only short term relief but PRP has a better long term relief with no recurrences at 6 months follow up. Larger cohort and longe follow up are required to support our study.