ABSTRACT

Objective: To assess the efficacy of autologous blood injections plus dry needling in refractory tennis elbow

Study Design: Descriptive study

Place and Duration of Study:Department of Orthopaedic, MTI Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, KPK, Pakistan from July 2016 to June 2018.

Materials and Methods:Thirty four patients with refractory tennis elbowmeeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. Each patient was subjected to 2ml of autologous blood injection plus dry needling at the point of maximal tenderness of the affected elbow. Pretreatment and post-treatment assessment was done at 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks using VAS pain score and Nirschl stage.

Results: Out of 34 patients, 24 (70.59%) patients were females and 10 (29.41%) were males. Mean age of the patients was 38.76years±6.96SD. In 27 (79.41 %) patients, right elbow was involved while in 7 (20.59 %) patients, left elbow was involved. Most patients (n= 26, 76.47%) were in the age range of 30-50 years. Mean duration of symptoms was15.73weeks±3.02SD. Mean VAS pain score and mean Nirschl stage, both pre-treatment and post-treatment at 4, 8 and 12 weeks were calculated. There was statistically significant decrease in mean VAS pain score and meanNirschl stage at 12 weeks (p value < 0.05). No local or systemic complicationwas noted. There was no loss to follow up.

Conclusion:Autologous blood injection plus dry needling is effective inthe treatment ofrefractory tennis elbow. We recommend longtermcomparative study to confirm the results.