Branson R, Naidu K, du Toit C, Rotstein AH, Kiss R, McMillan D, Fooks L, Coombes BK, Vicenzino B. Comparison of corticosteroid, autologous blood or sclerosant injections for chronic tennis elbow.
J Sci Med Sport 2017;
20:528-533. [PMID:
28089102 DOI:
10.1016/j.jsams.2016.10.010]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2016] [Revised: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
To compare three different ultrasound-guided injections for chronic tennis elbow.
DESIGN
Assessor-blinded, randomized controlled comparative trial.
METHODS
44 patients with clinically diagnosed tennis elbow, confirmed by Doppler ultrasound, received under ultrasound guidance, a single corticosteroid injection (n=14), or two injections (separated by 4 weeks) of either autologous blood (n=14) or polidocanol (n=16). Clinical and ultrasound examination was performed at baseline, 4, 12 and 26 weeks.
RESULTS
Complete recovery or much improvement was greater for corticosteroid injection than autologous blood and polidocanol at 4 weeks (p<0.001, number needed to treat 1 (95% CI 1-2)). In contrast, at 26 weeks corticosteroid was significantly worse than polidocanol (p=0.004, number needed to harm 2 (1-6)). Recurrence after corticosteroid injection was significantly higher than autologous blood or polidocanol (p=0.007, number needed to harm 2 (1-4)). Corticosteroid injection produced greater reduction in tendon thickness and vascularity than autologous blood at 4 weeks only. Compared to autologous blood, polidocanol reduced tendon thickness at 4 and 12 weeks and reduced echogenicity and hyperaemia after 12 or 26 weeks respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Injections of corticosteroid cannot be recommended over polidocanol or autologous blood, because despite beneficial short-term effect there were inferior long-term effects. Whether polidocanol or autologous blood injections are effective is unknown, especially as their global effect profiles are not unlike previously reported for wait-and-see.
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