Purpose
To determine whether platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection for lateral epicondylitis
offers patients comparable outcomes to lateral epicondylar surgery.
Methods
Embase, Cochrane Library, and MEDLINE databases were searched using the terms lateral
epicondylitis, lateral elbow pain, tennis elbow, lateral epicondylalgia, and elbow
tendinopathy individually and combined with the terms platelet-rich plasma injections
and lateral epicondylar surgery. We compared pain relief, function between the 2 treatment
options, and identified whether PRP injection reduced the incidence of lateral epicondylar
surgery. Studies must have compared PRP injections with lateral epicondylar surgery
for the treatment of lateral epicondylitis; be of Level I, II, or III evidence; and
be written in the English language.
Results
Three studies (1 Level II and 2 Level III) met inclusion criteria. Two of the studies
suggested that PRP injections offer similar relief as surgery in the short and mid-term,
one study reported that PRP injections and surgery had similar outcomes in pain improvement
and return to work, whereas 1 study reported that surgery may be a better long-term
solution.
Conclusions
In comparison with lateral epicondylar surgery, PRP injections offer similar improvements
in pain and function for patients suffering from lateral epicondylitis, especially
in the short- and mid-term in 2 of the 3 included investigations. Therefore, PRP injections
are an appropriate alternative for the treatment of lateral epicondylitis.
Level of Evidence
Level III, Systematic Review of Level III or greater evidence.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 03, 2021
Accepted:
April 15,
2021
Received:
September 23,
2020
Footnotes
See commentary on page 3368
The authors report the following potential conflicts of interest or sources of funding: J.B. reports personal fees from Arthroscopy, outside the submitted work. Full ICMJE author disclosure forms are available for this article online, as supplementary material.
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© 2021 by the Arthroscopy Association of North America
