title: Ultrasound-guided sclerosis of neovessels in patellar tendinopathy: a prospective study of 101 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A randomized controlled study has shown promising clinical results after treatment with sclerosing injections in a group of patients with patellar tendinopathy, but no study has investigated medium- or long-term outcome in a large and unselected group of patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate if sclerosing treatment would affect the level of patellar tendon pain and knee function after 24 months in a large group of patients with patellar tendinopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series; Level of evidence, 4.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study recruited patients with a clinical diagnosis of jumper's knee and visible neovascularization corresponding to the painful area on power Doppler ultrasound. They received up to a maximum of 5 ultrasound-guided sclerosing injections using polidocanol at 4- to 6-week intervals. Knee pain and function were recorded using the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Patella (VISA-P) score before treatment and 6, 12, and 24 months after the first injection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 101 patients (15 women and 86 men) with 120 tendons were included and given from 1 to 5 sclerosing injections (mean [SD], 2.5 [0.9]). The patients reported a significantly improved VISA-P score from baseline (mean, 39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 36-42) to the 24-month follow-up (mean, 65; 95% CI, 60-70) (range, 21-100; P < .001, paired t test). However, a VISA-P score of >95 points was reported in only 22 cases (20%), whereas 37 cases (36%) reported a VISA-P score of <50 at 24 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sclerosing treatment with polidocanol resulted in a moderate improvement in knee function and reduced pain in a heterogeneous group of patients with patellar tendinopathy. Nevertheless, few of the patients were cured, and the majority still had reduced function and substantial pain after 24 months of follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center, Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, PO Box 4014 Ullevaal Stadion, 0806 Oslo, Norway. aasne.hoksrud@nih.no
authors.forename: Aasne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoksrud
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Torgalsen
authors.forename: Herlof
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Harstad
authors.forename: Simen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haugen
authors.forename: Thor Einar
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: May Arna
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Risberg
authors.forename: Roald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bahr
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D059408:Pain Management; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; C080710:policosanol