Abstract

Introduction: This study is to compare results of inj steroid and inj PRP in tennis elbow condition locally. People that requires repetitive supinaton & pronation of forearm with elbow in near full extension are more predisposed to develop this condition. It was originally described as inflammatory process but current consensus is that tennis elbow is initiated as multiple micro tear most often within the origin of the ECRB^{CAMP 13TH 2599}. Corticosteroid injection have anti-inflammatory pontential whereas PRP injection have regenerative capacity.

Materials and Method: All patients were taken from OPD of index medical college, Indore. Duration was from January 2017 to March 2018. It was a prospective study. After patient selection by inclusion and exclusion criteria PRP or steroid injections were given on OPD basis. Full informed consent was taken prior to participate in study. Before putting patients in steroid group or PRP group everything has been explained to patients about procedure including charges. Patient chose group themselves by their own choices.

Total of 70 patients were investigated and diagnosed having tennis elbow. 38 patients chose for local steroid injection and 32 patients opted for PRP injection.

Results and Discussion: Our study shows that PRP injection is much better & safer option than steroid injection in terms of pain improvement and functional outcome. The probable reason may be as has been described in introduction TENNIS ELBOW is an degenerative process rather than an inflammatory process. Steroid acts as an anti-inflammatory substance and PRP is a regenerative material. So PRP works properly against the pathology and gives long term results.

Conclusion: In conclusion, local injection of autologous PRP as compared to local steroid injection appeared to be a promising form of therapy for tennis elbow. It is both safe (prepared from autologous blood) and effective in relieving pain and improving function. PRP therapy is much costlier than steroid injection but in long term it is fount to b cost effective (less requirement of future intervention). The current available data support that repeated steroid injections are deleterious and may lead to serious consequences even tendon rupture. However sustained efficacy of this therapy should be further evaluated in long-term follow-up studies that include a larger number of patients.

Keywords: PRP injection, steroid injection, Tennis elbow.