Abstract: Background: Lateral epicondylitis is the commonest chronic disabling painful condition of the elbow. Elbow pain and tenderness with resisted wrist extension are common manifestations in lateral epicondylitis. Recent studies have suggested ABI to be a safe and effective therapy for tennis elbow.
Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of single dose injection of autologous blood injection in treatment of lateral epicondylitis.
Methods: A total of 46 patients with lateral epicondylitis were treated at GMC Jammu. All patients had minimum three months of symptoms. Randomization and allocation to the trial group were carried out by a lot method. After receiving a local anesthetic, all patients had single dose injection of autologus blood injection in their extensor tendons at elbow. The primary analysis included visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores NIRSCHL score and Hand Grip.
Results: The degree of pain was assessed by employing the Visual Analogue scale (VAS), the degree of disability was evaluate by Nirschl staging & functionally by Hand grip. Pre-injection average pain (VAS) score was 8.9 (range, 6-10), the average Nirschl stage was 6.6 (range, 5-7) & the Hand grip was 29 (range 20-50%). After autologous blood injections the average pain score decreased from 8.9 to 0.19, the average Nirschl stage decreased from 6.6 to 0.1& Hand grip from 29 to 97.3% at 1 year follow-up most number of patients dramatically improved with single injection.
Conclusion: Treatment of patients with Refractory lateral epicondylitis with Autologous blood injection reduces pain and increases function significantly. Future decisions for application of Autologous blood injection for lateral epicondylitis should be confirmed by more number of patients and further follow up and should take into account possible costs and harms as well as benfits.
