The Comparison of Efficacy of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) with Methylprednisolone in Patients with Tennis Elbow

Abstract

Objective: To study the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma with Methylprednisolone in patients with tennis elbow.
 Study Design: Prospective longitudinal study.
 Place and Duration of Study: Department of Orthopedics, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Feb 2019 to Sep 2020.
 Methodology: All the patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis with the onset of symptoms of greater than three months were grouped into two groups. Seventy-six patients in each group were treated. Group-A received an injection of 5ml Platelet-rich plasma. Group-B was administered 1 ml of Methylprednisolone (dosage; 4-30 mg). The severity of pain using the visual analogue scale was evaluated at baseline.
 Results: In the PRP group, significant changes in pain perception were observed. The mean baseline VAS score in the PRP group was 6.9 ± 1.7, which decreased to 3.4 ± 2.9, 1.7 ± 0.3, and 1.2 ± 1.4 at four weeks, 12 weeks, and 52 weeks follow-up visit, respectively. Similarly, in group-B (Methylprednisolone), there was a significant change from baseline to 52 weeks postprocedure (p<0.001). It was found that the efficacy of Platelet free plasma was significantly higher than methylprednisolone (77.6% versus 48.7%, <0.005).
 Conclusions: The study concluded that Plasma rich platelet therapy was significantly more effective in relieving the pain and improving the functional outcomes in patients with elbow epicondylitis than Methylprednisolone.