Pain relief after intratendinous injections in patients with tennis elbow : results of a randomised study

• “Tennis elbow” is a difficult condition to treat. Ultrasonography (US) and colour Doppler (CD) guided injections with polidocanol targeting the area with increased blood flow in the extensor origin have shown promising clinical results.Objective:To evaluate and compare effects of US and CD guided intratendinous injections with sclerosing polidocanol and a local anaesthetic (lidocaine + epinephrine), in patients with tennis elbow.Design:Prospective, randomised, controlled, double-blind, crossover study.Setting:Sports Medicine Unit, Umeå University.Patients:32 patients (36 elbows), age range 27 to 66 years, with a long duration of elbow pain diagnosed as tennis elbow, were included in the study. All patients were followed up 3 and 12 months after treatment. Two patients were excluded due to other interventions during the study.Interventions:One US and CD guided injection with the sclerosing agent polidocanol (group 1) or the local anaesthetic lidocaine plus epinephrine (group 2). At the 3 month follow-up, additional injections with polidocanol were offered to both groups (crossover for group 2).Main outcome measures:Satisfaction with treatment (Yes/No), elbow pain during activity (visual analogue scale), and maximum voluntary grip strength.Results:There were no significant (p<0.05) differences in the outcome between group 1 and group 2. In both groups, there was a significantly lower VAS at the 3-month and 12-month follow-ups, and grip strength was significantly higher at the 12-month follow-up.Conclusions:US and CD guided intratendinous injections gave pain relief in patients with tennis elbow. Polidocanol and lidocaine plus epinephrine injections gave similar results.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Idrottsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Sport and Fitness Sciences (hsv//eng)

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MEDICINE

MEDICIN

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