ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of ultrasound - guided injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for the treatment of recalcitrant lateral epicondylitis. Methods From September 2014 to June 2016, a total of 15 patients with recalcitrant lateral epicondylitis received ultrasound - guided injection of autologous PRP therapy, including via left arm injection (n=2) and via right arm injection (n=13). By using twice centrifugal method, the patient' s own venous whole blood was centrifuged to obtain PRP. All patients underwent PRP injection once a week, a total of 3 treatments were performed for each patient. Results After the first injection of PRP, the patients were followed up for 12 months. One month after the treatment, visual analogue scale (VAS) score was obviously improved, at 3 months after the treatment the improvement of VAS score reached its peak and it remained at this level until 12 months after the treatment. The elbow joint function, which was evaluated with modified MAYO elbow score, was also significantly improved in one month after the treatment, and the clinical effect was sustained to 12 months after the treatment. Conclusion Ultrasound - guided precise injection of PRP can effectively improve the pain and the elbow joint function caused by recalcitrant lateral epicondylitis. (J Intervent Radiol, 2018, 27:238-241)