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Ongoing Positive Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Corticosteroid Injection in Lateral Epicondylitis

Taco Gosens, MD, PhD, Joost C. Peerbooms, MD, Wilbert van Laar,z and Brenda L. den Oudsten,y PhD The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2011; Vol. 39, No. 6: 1200-6

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been shown to be a general stimulation for repair and 1-year results showed promising
success percentages.
Purpose: This trial was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of PRP compared with corticosteroid injections in patients with
chronic lateral epicondylitis with a 2-year follow-up.
Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.
Methods: The trial was conducted in 2 Dutch teaching hospitals. One hundred patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis were
randomly assigned to a leukocyte-enriched PRP group (n = 51) or the corticosteroid group (n = 49). Randomization and allocation
to the trial group were carried out by a central computer system. Patients received either a corticosteroid injection or an autologous
platelet concentrate injection through a peppering needling technique. The primary analysis included visual analog scale
(VAS) pain scores and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) outcome scores.
Results: The PRP group was more often successfully treated than the corticosteroid group (P\.0001). Success was defined as
a reduction of 25% on VAS or DASH scores without a reintervention after 2 years. When baseline VAS and DASH scores were
compared with the scores at 2-year follow-up, both groups significantly improved across time (intention-to-treat principle). However,
the DASH scores of the corticosteroid group returned to baseline levels, while those of the PRP group significantly improved
(as-treated principle). There were no complications related to the use of PRP.
Conclusion: Treatment of patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis with PRP reduces pain and increases function significantly,
exceeding the effect of corticosteroid injection even after a follow-up of 2 years. Future decisions for application of PRP for lateral
epicondylitis should be confirmed by further follow-up from this trial and should take into account possible costs and harms as
well as benefits.
Keywords: lateral epicondylitis; platelet-rich plasma; corticosteroids; pain; disability