title: Effectiveness of platelets rich plasma versus corticosteroids in lateral epicondylitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the treatment modalities of lateral epicondylitis in terms of pain relief.
  
  
  METHODS
  The randomised controlled study was conducted at Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan, from April 2013 to March 2014, and comprised cases of lateral epicondylitis. The patients were selected through consecutive sampling from the outpatient department and were randomly allocated to two equal groups; group A receiving corticosteroid injections, and group B receiving injection of platelet-rich plasma. The patients were followed up for three weeks to determine the effectiveness of intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 102 patients in the study were divided into two groups of 51(50%) each. The over mean age was 33.9±10.3 years. Mean age of patients in the corticosteroid group was 34.2±10.2 years and in the other group it was 33.6±10.5 years. Mean baseline visual analogue score in group A were 6.5±1.2 and in group B it was 6.7±1.4. In group A, 74.5% of patients presented in moderate pain category and 25.5% presented in severe pain category. In group B, 70.6% presented in moderate with 29.4% presented in severe pain category. On follow-up, the mean pain score in group A was 4.0±2.6 and in group B it was 3.5±2.61. Group A showed effectiveness in 52.9% patients and group B showed effectiveness in 82.3% (p=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PRP is an effective alternate to corticosteroid in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow).
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma PGMI, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar.
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khaliq
authors.affiliation: Department of orthopedic Gaju Khan Medical College Swabi.
authors.forename: Imran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma PGMI, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inam
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma PGMI, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma PGMI, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar.
authors.forename: Husnain
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma PGMI, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar.
authors.forename: Malik Javed
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Iqbal
keywords: Lateral epicondylitis, Tennis elbow, Steroid, Platelet-rich plasma, Visual analogue scale.