Short-term results of treatment of tennis elbow with anti-inflammatory drugs alone or in combination with local injection of a corticosteroid and anesthetic mixture

Abstract

Objectives: We compared the short-term results of anti-inflammatory drugs alone or in combination with local injection of a corticosteroid and anesthetic mixture in the treatment of tennis elbow.
Methods: The study included 21 patients (12 males, 9 females; mean age 45 years; range 19 to 72 years) with tennis elbow. The patients were randomized to oral and topical anti-inflammatory drugs alone (group 1, n=10) or combined with a single local injection of a corticosteroid and anesthetic mixture (group 2, n=11). The patients were evaluated with a pain score (0 to 10 points) and clinical examination before and one month after treatment.
Results: Complete or near-complete relief of pain and unlimited function were obtained in four patients (40%) in group 1, and in 10 patients (90.9%) in group 2. On physical examination, two patients (20%) in group 1 and eight patients (72.7%) in group 2 were pain-free upon pressure on the lateral epicondyle or dorsiflexion of the wrist. Pain scores differed significantly in both groups after treatment (p=0.026 and p=0.003, respectively); however, combination treatment was associated with a significantly higher efficacy (p=0.036).
Conclusion: It was concluded that significantly enhanced efficacy of the combination treatment used in this study might be limited to the short-term and that adverse effects of steroids on the tendons should be taken into consideration.