Short-term Results of Transcatheter Arterial Embolization for Chronic Medial Epicondylitis Refractory to Conservative Treatment: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study

Transcatheter arterial embolisation for the relief of shoulder and elbow chronic joint pain refractory to conventional treatment: Systematic review

“…Okuno and other authors have also published studies using TAE to embolise abnormal blood vessels in patients with chronic shoulder and elbow pain refractory to conservative treatment. These studies also reported improved pain scores after TAE 2–4,15,16,20,21 …”

“…The process of inflammation is maintained through a continuous supply of different inflammatory cells through these abnormal new blood vessels 18,26,28 . The exact mechanism of TAE in relieving pain remains unclear and requires further studies to have sufficient scientific evidence 2,4 . However, it is believed that TAE's role in relieving joint pain can be explained through two mechanisms.…”

“…However, it is believed that TAE's role in relieving joint pain can be explained through two mechanisms. Firstly, limiting blood supply to abnormal vessels decreases inflammatory cell influx, thus decreasing inflammation and improving pain 2,4,16 . Secondly, embolisation can reduce the stimulation of unmyelinated sensory nerve endings that grow surrounding abnormal blood vessels created by angiogenesis 2,4,10,16 …”

“…These studies also reported improved pain scores after TAE. [2][3][4]15,16,20,21 A high-quality systematic review is considered a 'level I' evidence-based guidance for clinical practice through comprehensively summarising all current primary research in response to a research question. 22 There is a gap in this level of evidence to determine if TAE is reliable in managing patients with chronic shoulder and elbow joint pain.…”

“…Pain and sensory disturbance of the upper limbs are common symptoms with a 4%–35% prevalence rate in the general population, which leads to an apparent decrease in labour force productivity 1 . The literature reports prevalence rates of lateral epicondylitis, adhesive capsulitis, medial epicondylitis, rotator‐cuff tendinopathy and calcific tendonitis to be 2.8%, 3.5%, 0.4%, 2% and 2.7%, respectively 2–4 . In 2012, the United Kingdom suffered an estimated £27 million loss from work absenteeism due to lateral epicondylitis alone 5,6 .…”