To Compare the Functional Outcome of Steroid Injection and Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection in the Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis: A Prospective Comparative Study

Author(s): Dr. Gurpreet Singh Sidhu, Dr. Shekhar Singal, Dr. Rajnish Garg, Dr. Tushar Jethi

Aims: Lateral epicondylitis (LE), or tennis elbow, is a common overuse tendinopathy causing significant pain and functional limitation. While corticosteroid (CS) injections offer rapid symptom relief, recurrence is frequent. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has emerged as a biological alternative with potential regenerative benefits. This study aimed to compare the short- and mid-term functional outcomes of corticosteroid injection versus PRP injection in patients with LE.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, comparative study was conducted at a tertiary care center involving 80 patients diagnosed with LE refractory to conservative treatment for ≥3 months. Patients were randomly allocated to two groups: PRP (n=36) and CS (n=44). The interventions were administered under sterile conditions, and outcomes were assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Activities of Daily Living Score (ADLS), and Functional Usability (FU) score at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months.

Results: At one month, the CS group showed significantly lower mean VAS (0.27 vs 2.47), higher FU (11.64 vs 9.47), and better ADLS scores (7.66 vs 5.83) than the PRP group (p<0.001). However, at three months, the PRP group outperformed the CS group in all domains: VAS (0.28 vs 1.45), FU (12.00 vs 10.48), and ADLS (8.0 vs 6.88), with all differences statistically significant (p<0.001). The CS group showed a trend toward symptom recurrence.

Conclusion: While corticosteroid injection offers rapid pain relief, its benefits wane over time. PRP therapy provides sustained improvement in pain and function, making it a superior long-term treatment for lateral epicondylitis. PRP should be considered the preferred option for managing chronic LE.

Highlights

• • Steroid injections yield rapid pain relief and early functional improvement in chronic tennis elbow.
• • By 3 months, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) recipients exhibit significantly lower pain and better function than the steroid group.
• • In this randomized trial of 80 patients, steroid effects waned by 3 months while PRP benefits persisted, favoring PRP for sustained relief.