Purpose The purpose of this study aimed to evaluate the efcacy of local injection of allogeneic platelet-derived growth
factors in treatment of patients with tennis elbow.
Patients and methods This study included 120 tennis elbow patients randomly divided into two groups. The patients were
locally injected with allogeneic growth factors (treatment group) or with normal saline (control group). The outcomes were
assessed using Patient-Related Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) and quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand
(qDASH) scales. The clinical outcomes were accordingly classifed as excellent, good and poor. The patient’s satisfaction
and adverse efects were also recorded.
Results There was no statistically signifcant diference between the two groups regarding the age, gender, dominant arm or
the pre-injection scores. At three month follow-up, the reductions in the mean PRTEE and qDASH scores were 88.7% and
70.6% in the treatment group versus 21.8% and 14.9% in the control group, respectively. At the last follow-up, the outcomes
in the treatment group were excellent in 85% of patients and good in 15%, versus 8% and 32% in the control group. Overall,
95% were satisfed in the treatment group compared to 25% in control group. Forty patients in the treatment group experienced mild transient post-injection pain.
Conclusion This study strongly suggests that local injection of allogeneic platelet-derived growth factors could be a promising safe treatment option for tennis elbow with signifcant pain relief, functional improvement and patient’s satisfaction. Yet,
additional larger studies are needed to assess the durability of these outcomes |
