Key takeaways:
- Platelet-rich plasma may be more effective for long-term results vs. corticosteroids for patients with tennis elbow.
- Corticosteroids were associated with better short-term outcomes vs. platelet-rich plasma.
While both corticosteroids and platelet-rich plasma may be effective treatments for patients with lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, PRP may offer longer-term functional improvements and pain relief, according to published results.
Researchers used PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Embase databases to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 prospective randomized controlled trials that included 730 patients who received either PRP (n = 354) or corticosteroids (n = 376) for lateral epicondylitis. Among all studies, mean follow-up was 6.94 months.
Platelet-rich plasma may be more effective for long-term results vs. corticosteroids for patients with tennis elbow. Image: Adobe Stock
Researchers found PRP was associated with significantly worse improvements in VAS pain scores (mean difference [MD] = 0.93; P = .0003) and DASH scores (MD = 10.23; P < .0001) vs. corticosteroids at a follow-up of less than 2 months. However, they found PRP was associated with significantly better improvements in VAS pains scores (MD = –2.18; P < .0001), DASH scores (MD = –8.13; P < .0001) and Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MD = 16.53; P = .03) compared with corticosteroids at a follow-up of 6 months or longer.
“[Corticosteroids] provide better short-term functional improvement and may be more advantageous in terms of short-term pain relief, while PRP provides better long-term functional improvement and better performance regarding long-term pain relief,” the researchers wrote in the study.
