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USG-guided injection of corticosteroid for lateral epicondylitis does not improve clinical outcomes: a prospective randomised study

  • Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Corticosteroid injection used to be the treatment of choice for lateral epicondylitis. Most injections are performed blindly. In the blinded technique, it could be difficult to determine the exact pathological localisation. The purpose of this single-blinded, randomised controlled clinical study was to compare the clinical therapeutic effects of blinded and USG-guided corticosteroid injection therapy in lateral epicondylitis.

Patients and methods

Forty patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis were included in this clinical trial. The patients were randomly allocated to blinded group or USG-guided injection group according to a computer-generated randomisation list. All blinded injections were administered by an orthopaedic surgeon and all ultrasound-guided injections were made by a radiologist experienced in this technique. All patients were injected under aseptic conditions using 40 mg/2 mL methylprednisolone acetate. The outcomes of both treatments were assessed by an independent assessor at pre-injection, then at 6-week and 3- and 6-month follow-up assessments. The assessor evaluated the q-DASH, VAS, and grip strength scores.

Results

No statistically significant difference was determined between the groups in respect of the Q-DASH and grip strength scores preoperatively and at 6 weeks and 3 and 6 months post-injection. No statistically significant difference was determined between the groups in respect of the VAS scores preoperatively and at 6 weeks and 6 months. No systemic or local complications were reported during the treatment.

Conclusion

There was no statistically significant difference compared to the blinded injection technique, and the mean score differences between the groups are of no clinical relevance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Training and Research Hospital, Saglik Bilimleri University, Semsi Denizer Cad. E5, Yanyol Cevizli Kavsagı Kartal, Kartal, 34890, Istanbul, Turkey

    Deniz Gulabi

  2. Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Training and Research Hospital, Kartal, 34890, Istanbul, Turkey

    Mehmet Ali Uysal & Ilker Colak

  3. Radiology Department, Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Training and Research Hospital, Saglik Bilimleri University, Kartal, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ahmet Akça

  4. Orthopaedic and Traumatology Department, Kartal Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Training and Research Hospital, Saglik Bilimleri University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Gultekin Sıtkı Çeçen & Seyitali Gumustas

Authors
  1. Deniz Gulabi
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  2. Mehmet Ali Uysal
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  3. Ahmet Akça
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  4. Ilker Colak
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  5. Gultekin Sıtkı Çeçen
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  6. Seyitali Gumustas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Deniz Gulabi.

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Conflict of interest

No benefits in any form have been or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this manuscript. No funds were received in support of this study. None of the authors of this manuscript received funding, grants, or in-kind support in support of this research or the preparation of this manuscript. The authors have no financial relationships with any company. Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.

Ethical review committee statement

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Kartal Dr.Lutfi Kirdar Training and Research Hospital (Number 2016/ 514-88-20).

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Cite this article

Gulabi, D., Uysal, M.A., Akça, A. et al. USG-guided injection of corticosteroid for lateral epicondylitis does not improve clinical outcomes: a prospective randomised study. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 137, 601–606 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-017-2657-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-017-2657-3

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