Article

OBJECTIVE: To compare local corticosteroid with autologous blood injections for
the short-term treatment of lateral elbow tendinopathy. DESIGN: A single blind,
randomized clinical trial was performed in an outpatient clinic at a university
hospital. Sixty patients aged
27-64 yrs with a new episode of tennis elbow were
recruited. Thirty patients were randomized to methylprednisolone and 30 to
autologous blood group over 1 yr. Severity of pain within last 24 hrs; limb
function; pain and strength in maximum grip; disabilities of the arm, shoulder,
and hand quick questionnaire (Quick DASH) scores; modified Nirschl scores; and
pressure pain threshold were evaluated before injection and at 4 and 8 wks after
injection. We analyzed our data with the chi and t test. RESULTS: Within-group
analyses showed better results for autologous blood (all P values <0.001 except
for grip strength, P = 0.005). In the corticosteroid group, differences in
severity of pain (P = 0.008) and grip strength (P = 0.001) were significant. At 4
wks, between-group analyses showed superiority of autologous blood for severity
of pain (P = 0.001), pain in grip (P = 0.002), pressure pain threshold (P =
0.031), and Quick DASH questionnaire score (P = 0.004). There were no significant
differences in modified Nirschl score, grip strength, and limb function. At 8
wks, autologous blood was more effective in all the outcomes (all P values
<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Autologous blood was more effective in short term than the
corticosteroid injection.

Langue : ANGLAIS