Chronic tennis elbow; outcome of autologous blood injections for the treatment

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the results of autologous blood injection as a treatment for chronic tennis elbow [Lateral Epicondylitis]. Study Descriptive case-series. Orthopaedic Surgery Unit Mardan Medical Complex Teaching hospital Bacha Khan Medical College Mardan KPK, from April 2010 to June 2011. A total of 22 patients with tennis elbow [lateral epicondylitis] were injected with 2 mL of autologous blood under the extensor carpi radialis brevis in the Out-Patient Department [OPD]. Patients rated their pain on a Visual Analogue Scale[VAS] scale of 0 to 10 with 0 representing no pain and 10 the worst pain they had ever experienced, and categorized themselves according to Nirschl score[1-7]. After the procedure pain rating and Nirschl score were recorded every 3rd week for a minimum of 6 months. If pain relief was not relieved entirely 6 weeks after the autologous blood injection a repeat injection was offered to the patient. Seventeen patients [77.2%] received one injection of autologous blood and had resulted in lowering their mean pre-injection pain score and Nirschl sore of 6.2 and 6 to 0.1 and 1.1 post-injection respectively. Five patients [22.7%] received two injections and their average pre-injection pain score of 6.8 and Nirschl score of 6.2 were lowered to 0.2 and 1 respectively. Autolgous blood injection is an effective way to treat patients of chronic tennis elbow as demonstrated by decrease in pain and fall in Nirschl score and we therefore recommend it as a first line treatment for chronic tennis elbow