Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Oct 1;16(10):e70590.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.70590. eCollection 2024 Oct.

A Comparative Study of the Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) vs. Other Conservative Treatments for Lateral Epicondylitis

Naveena H M  1 , Manjunatha R  2 , Ankur Salwan  3
Affiliations

A Comparative Study of the Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) vs. Other Conservative Treatments for Lateral Epicondylitis

Naveena H M et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Background Lateral epicondylitis, also known as tennis elbow, is a degenerative condition that affects a significant portion of the adult population, particularly those between the ages of 35 and 55. Conventional treatments, including analgesics, physiotherapy, and bracing, often lead to a high recurrence rate. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has emerged as a promising alternative, offering regenerative benefits that may enhance tissue healing. This study evaluates the effectiveness of PRP injections compared to traditional conservative therapies in alleviating pain and improving function in individuals with chronic lateral epicondylitis. Methods This prospective observational study was conducted at Father Muller Medical College Hospital from April 2018 to August 2019. A total of 44 patients aged 18-60 years with chronic lateral epicondylitis were randomly assigned to two groups: PRP (n = 22) and conservative treatment (n = 22). The conservative group received a combination of physiotherapy, analgesics, and a counterforce brace. The primary outcome was measured using the Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) score, assessed at baseline, four weeks, eight weeks, three months, and six months. The PRTEE score includes pain and function subscales. Data was analyzed using appropriate statistical methods, and significance was considered at p < 0.05. Results Both groups significantly improved pain and function during the first eight weeks. However, the PRP group demonstrated superior long-term outcomes. At three and six months, the PRP group had significantly lower pain scores (26.00 ± 3.55 and 19.55 ± 3.33, respectively, p < 0.001) compared to the conservative group (32.23 ± 3.75 and 33.64 ± 3.63). Similarly, the PRP group showed better functional improvement at six months (PRTEE function subscale: 20.00 ± 3.19 in PRP vs. 30.73 ± 4.11 in conservative, p < 0.001). No complications were reported in either group. Conclusions PRP injections provide superior long-term pain relief and functional recovery compared to conservative management in patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis. While conservative treatments are effective in the short term, PRP offers a more durable solution with no reported complications. These findings support the use of PRP as a viable alternative for the long-term management of lateral epicondylitis.

Keywords: conservative management; lateral epicondylitis; pain relief; platelet-rich plasma; prtee score; tennis elbow.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. The Institutional Ethics Committee of Father Muller Medical College Hospital issued approval FMMCIEC/CCM/200/2018. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

References

    1. Tendinosis of the elbow (tennis elbow). Clinical features and findings of histological, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopy studies. Kraushaar BS, Nirschl RP. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10073590/ J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1999;81:259–278. - PubMed
    1. Lateral epicondylitis in general practice: course and prognostic indicators of outcome. Smidt N, Lewis M, VA VA Windt DA, Hay EM, Bouter LM, Croft P. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16881095/ J Rheumatol. 2006;33:2053–2059. - PubMed
    1. Treatment of lateral epicondylitis: where is the evidence? Hong QN, Durand MJ, Loisel P. Joint Bone Spine. 2004;71:369–373. - PubMed
    1. Sonographic examination of lateral epicondylitis. Connell D, Burke F, Coombes P, McNealy S, Freeman D, Pryde D, Hoy G. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2001;176:777–782. - PubMed
    1. Lack of scientific evidence for the treatment of lateral epicondylitis of the elbow. An attempted meta-analysis. Labelle H, Guibert R, Joncas J, Newman N, Fallaha M, Rivard CH. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1992;74:646–651. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources