Study to Evaluate the Outcome of Autologous Blood and Corticosteroid Injection to Treat Lateral Epicondylitis of the Elbow

Objective: Tennis elbow, sometimes called lateral epicondylitis, is a common cause of elbow pain on the lateral side. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of autologous blood (AB) injection and local corticosteroid injection for the treatment of lateral epicondylitis of the elbow Materials and Methodology: This was a randomized, single-blinded prospective study conducted at Muhammad Medical College and Hospital Mirpurkhas, Pakistan from May 2020 to May 2021. A total of 80 subjects were divided into 2 groups, each with 40 participants: Group A patients received AB(2ml), whereas those in Group B were injected with 80 mg methyl Prednisolone acetate. Patients were assessed at baseline and after one month, three months, and six months using the Nirschl stages and VAS score. Results: No significant difference in demographic characteristics were observed in both groups. The mean VAS scores and Nirschl stages in groups A and B were similar before the injection, with a mean VAS score of 6.19 ± 0.67 in group A and 6.32 ± 0.87 in group B with a P-value of 0.64, and a mean Nirschl stage of 6.04 0.77 in group A and 6.15 0.91 in group B with a P-value of 0.54. In comparison to group A, group B received significant pain relief one month following surgery. At three months and six months of patient follow-up, the VAS score and Nirschl stage in group A began to fall; however, in group B, the average VAS pain level increased from 1.52 ± 0.87 to 1.91 ± 1.18, and the Nirschl stage increased from 1.51 ± 0.66 to 1.76 ± 0.41. Conclusion: Autologous blood injection is a simple, affordable, and effective treatment for lateral epicondylitis with few adverse effects and a low recurrence rate.