Platelet-rich plasma versus corticosteroid: a randomized controlled trial on tennis elbow patients resistant to nonsurgical treatments

BACKGROUND: Although some studies on tennis elbow indicate corticosteroid (CS) effectiveness in the short term, according to the role of race, this study evaluates the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) compared with CS for a more cost-effective treatment. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial included 30 positive-resisted wrist extension patients with a minimum five visual analog scale (VAS) pain score. Participants were randomly assigned to treatment or control groups via computer-generated randomization and were matched for baseline and clinical characteristics. Cases received either 40 mg of prednisolone acetate or 2 ml of PRP, followed for 1 month. VAS and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores were the primary outcomes. RESULTS: The median VAS and the mean DASH scores had a statistically significant difference in the PRP and CS groups before and after injection (P<0.001). The mean DASH difference between preinjection and follow-up time in the PRP and CS groups was 59.72±14.17 and 43.16±10.87, respectively, with a mean difference of 16.55 (95% CI 7.10–26.00) and a significant difference (P=0.001). The mean VAS pain score difference in preinjection and follow-up time had a statistically significant difference between the PRP and CS groups (P=0.026), and the mean VAS pain score difference in the CS group was 6.46±1.50 and 7.73±0.96 in the PRP group. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, larger studies with parallel groups and more diverse CS doses and types with baseline matching are needed to confirm the short-term benefits of PRP. Investigating the effects of different CS doses using ultrasound techniques is recommended.