A prospective, randomised study to compare extracorporeal shock-wave therapy and injection of steroid for the treatment of tennis elbow.
We undertook a prospective, randomised study to compare the analgesic effect of injection of steroid and of extracorporeal shock-wave therapy (ESWT) for the treatment of tennis elbow. Group 1 received a single injection of 20 mg of triamcinolone with lignocaine while group 2 received 2000 shock waves in three sessions at weekly intervals. After six weeks there was a significant difference between the groups with the mean pain score for the injection group falling from 66 to 21 compared with a decrease from 61 to 35 in the shock-wave group (p = 0.05). After three months, 84% of patients in group 1 were considered to have had successful treatment compared with 60% in group 2. In the medium term local injection of steroid is more successful and 100 times less expensive than ESWT in the treatment of tennis elbow.
Crowther
M A A
MA
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, Westbury-on-Trym, UK.
Bannister
G C
GC
Huma
H
H
Rooker
G D
GD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013716:Tennis Elbow / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014221:Triamcinolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014221:Triamcinolone