Bracing or kinesio taping in the management of lateral elbow tendinopathy: A prospective, randomized single-blinded trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare the effects of forearm counter force brace (FCB) and kinesio taping (KT) on pain severity, grip strength and functionality of patients with lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET). METHODS: The study was planned as a prospective, randomized and assessor-blinded study with 1-month follow-up period. Seventy-two patients, diagnosed as LET were randomly assigned to FCB (n = 41) or KT (n = 31) groups. In the FCB group, the patients were informed and instructed to wear the brace for three weeks continuously. In the KT group, tape was applied once a week for four weeks with muscle inhibition and fascia correction techniques. The outcome measures were pain pressure threshold (PPT), maximal pain-free hand grip strength measurement and patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation questionnaire (PRTEE). The assessments were performed at the baseline, immediately after treatment and one month later after treatment. RESULTS: PPT and grip strength were significantly increased over time in both groups. Pain, function and total scores of PRTEE were significantly decreased in both FCB and KT groups. The effect size of the improvement in PRTEE function score was within acceptable clinical significance in the KT group. However, there was no significant difference between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Pain severity, grip strength and functionality of patients with LET improved over time in both FCB and KT groups. However, neither was superior in the management of LET.

Lisado plaquetario autólogo y su efectividad en pacientes con epicondilitis / Autologous platelet lysate and its effectiveness in patients with epicondylitis

Introducción: La epicondilitis constituye uno de los motivos de consulta más frecuentes tanto en la asistencia primaria como especializada y sin duda alguna, es uno de los problemas que tiene mayor repercusión en la persona que la padece. El tratamiento de las epicondilitis constituye un reto para la medicina debido a enormes implicaciones sanitarias, sociolaborales y el dolor e impotencia funcional que provoca. Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad del lisado plaquetario autólogo como alternativa de tratamiento en pacientes enfermos con epicondilitis. Método: Se realizó un estudio cuasi experimental analítico longitudinal prospectivo en el que se evaluó el uso de lisado plaquetario autólogo como alternativa de tratamiento en pacientes con epicondilitis. El universo estuvo constituido por los pacientes que acudieron a consulta de Ortopedia y traumatología con el diagnóstico de epicondilitis, durante el periodo comprendido entre octubre de 2014 y julio de 2018. La muestra quedo constituida por 80 pacientes que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión y exclusión. Resultados: El grupo de edad entre 36-56 años y del sexo femenino son los de mayor representación en padecer esta enfermedad. Las infiltraciones de lisado plaquetario autólogo aportan mejores resultados al convencional y se observa la mayor representación de pacientes que tuvieron una remisión total. Las complicaciones fueron mucho más evidentes en el tratamiento convencional. También es relevante el costo-beneficio del tratamiento con lisado plaquetario autólogo. Conclusiones: El tratamiento con lisado plaquetario autólogo puede ser una alternativa para mejorar la calidad de vida de los pacientes con epicondilitis(AU)

Introduction: Epicondylitis is one of the most frequent reasons for attending consultation in both primary and specialized care; while it is undoubtedly one of the problems with the greatest impact on the person who suffers from it. The managment epicondylitis is a challenge for medicine, due to the enormous health-related and social implications, as well as the pain and functional impotence that it causes. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of autologous platelet lysate as a treatment alternative in patients with epicondylitis. Method: A prospective, longitudinal, analytical and quasiexperimental study was carried out, in which the use of autologous platelet lysate as an alternative treatment in patients with epicondylitis was assessed. The universe consisted of patients who attended the orthopedics and traumatology consultation, during the period between October 2014 and July 2018, with a diagnosis of epicondylitis. The sample was made up of eighty patients who met the inclusion criteria; exclusion criteria were also considered. Results: The age group between 36 and 56 years, together with the female sex, are the most represented with respect to suffering from this disease. Infiltrations of autologous platelet lysate provide better outcomes than the conventional one, while greater representation of remitted patients is observed. Complications were much more evident in conventional treatment. The cost-benefit relationship of treatment with autologous platelet lysate is also relevant. Conclusions: Treatment with autologous platelet lysate can be an alternative to improve the quality of life of patients with epicondylitis(AU)

The Effect of Scapular Muscle Strengthening on Functional Recovery in Patients With Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

CONTEXT: There is a lack of consensus on the best management approach for lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET). Recently, scapular stabilizer strength impairments have been found in individuals with LET. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of local therapy (LT) treatment to LT treatment plus a scapular muscle-strengthening (LT + SMS) program in patients diagnosed with LET. DESIGN: Prospective randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Multisite outpatient physical therapy. PATIENTS: Thirty-two individuals with LET who met the criteria were randomized to LT or LT + SMS. INTERVENTIONS: Both groups received education, a nonarticulating forearm orthosis, therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, and thermal modalities as needed. Additionally, the LT + SMS group received SMS exercises. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary outcome measure was the patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation; secondary outcomes included global rating of change (GROC), grip strength, and periscapular muscle strength. Outcomes were reassessed at discharge, 6, and 12 months from discharge. Linear mixed-effect models were used to analyze the differences between groups over time for each outcome measure. RESULTS: The average duration of symptoms was 10.2 (16.1) months, and the average total number of visits was 8.0 (2.2) for both groups. There were no significant differences in gender, age, average visits, weight, or height between groups at baseline (P > .05). No statistical between-group differences were found for any of the outcome measures. There were significant within-group improvements in all outcome measures from baseline to all follow-up points (P < .05). CONCLUSION: The results of this pilot study suggest that both treatment approaches were equally effective in reducing pain, improving function, and increasing grip strength at discharge as well as the 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Our multimodal treatment programs were effective at reducing pain and improving function up to 1 year after treatment in a general population of individuals with LET.

Clinical indications for image-guided interventional procedures in the musculoskeletal system: a Delphi-based consensus paper from the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology (ESSR)-Part II, elbow and wrist.

BACKGROUND: Although image-guided interventional procedures of the elbow and wrist are routinely performed, there is poor evidence in the literature concerning such treatments. Our aim was to perform a Delphi-based consensus on published evidence on image-guided interventional procedures around the elbow and wrist and provide clinical indications on this topic. METHODS: A board of 45 experts in image-guided interventional musculoskeletal procedures from the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology were involved in this Delphi-based consensus study. All panelists reviewed and scored published papers on image-guided interventional procedures around the elbow and wrist updated to September 2018 according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine levels of evidence. Consensus on statements drafted by the panelists about clinical indications was considered as "strong" when more than 95% of panelists agreed and as "broad" if more than 80% agreed. RESULTS: Eighteen statements were drafted, 12 about tendon procedures and 6 about intra-articular procedures. Only statement #15 reached the highest level of evidence (ultrasound-guided steroid wrist injections result in greater pain reduction and greater likelihood of attaining clinically important improvement). Seventeen statements received strong consensus (94%), while one received broad consensus (6%). CONCLUSIONS: There is still poor evidence in published papers on image-guided interventional procedures around the elbow and wrist. A strong consensus has been achieved in 17/18 (94%) statements provided by the panel on clinical indications. Large prospective randomized trials are needed to better define the role of these procedures in clinical practice. KEY POINTS: • The panel provided 18 evidence-based statements on clinical indications of image-guided interventional procedures around the elbow and wrist. • Only statement #15 reached the highest level of evidence: ultrasound-guided steroid wrist injections result in greater pain reduction and greater likelihood of attaining clinically important improvement. • Seventeen statements received strong consensus (94%), while broad consensus was obtained by 1 statement (6%).