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. 2019 Aug 14;16(6):496-499.
doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2019.08.023. eCollection 2019 Nov-Dec.

Long-term follow-up of platelet-rich plasma injections for refractory lateral epicondylitis

Milos Brkljac  1 , James Conville  1 , Ulhas Sonar  1 , Shyam Kumar  1
Affiliations

Long-term follow-up of platelet-rich plasma injections for refractory lateral epicondylitis

Milos Brkljac et al. J Orthop. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Background: Lateral epicondylitis (LE)1 affects between 1 and 3% of the population. Recently, platelet-rich plasma (PRP)2 has gained popularity.

Aim: Assess the long-term outcomes of PRP for patients with refractory LE.

Methods: We assessed 31 patients who had failed conservative management using the Oxford Elbow Score (OES).3.

Results: Mean follow-up: 5.2 years (range 4.2-6.1 years).87.1% exhibited minimum clinically important difference (MCID)4 in pain scores between pre-op and long-term. 90.3% displayed MCID in function and psycho-social domains.Two patients had a repeat injection and six underwent open release.

Discussion: PRP is successful in treating refractory LE in most patients and avoiding surgery.

Keywords: LE, Lateral Epicondylitis; Lateral epicondylitis; Lateral tendinosis; MCID, Minimum clinically important difference; OES, Oxford Elbow Score; PRP, Platelet-Rich Plasma; Platelet-rich plasma; Tennis elbow.

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Figures

Graph 1
Graph 1
Kaplan-Meier survival curve demonstrating time to further intervention in weeks following a single injection of PRP. Confidence intervals are not included.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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