title: Efficacy of betamethasone valerate medicated plaster on painful chronic elbow tendinopathy: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to investigate the efficacy and safety of a medicated plaster containing betamethasone valerate (BMV) 2.25 mg in patients with chronic elbow tendinopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with assignment 2:2:1:1 to BMV medicated plaster applied daily for 12 hours, daily for 24 hours or matched placebo. 62 patients aged ≥18 years with chronic lateral elbow tendinopathy were randomized. The primary efficacy variable was pain reduction (VAS) at day 28. Secondary objectives included summed pain intensity differences (SPID), overall treatment efficacy and tolerability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  mean reduction in VAS pain score at day 28 was greater in both BMV medicated plaster groups, -39.35±27.69 mm for BMV12-h and -36.91±32.50 mm for BMV24-h, than with placebo, -20.20±27.32 mm. Considering the adjusted mean decreases, there was a statistically significant difference between BMV12-h and placebo (p=0.0110). Global pain relief (SPID) and overall treatment efficacy were significantly better with BMV. BMV and placebo plasters had similar local tolerability and there were few treatment-related adverse events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BMV plaster was significantly more effective than placebo at reducing pain in patients with chronic elbow tendinopathies. The BMV plaster was safe and well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frizziero
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedics Clinic, "Santa Maria Misericordia" University Hospital, Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Araldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Causero
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedics and Traumatology Unit, General Hospital, Legnano (MI), Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bernasconi
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedics and Traumatology Unit, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Rocco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Papalia
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedics and Traumatology Unit, General Hospital, Pavullo nel Frignano (MO), Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedics and Traumatology Unit, "San Giovanni Calibita Fatebenefratelli" Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sessa
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sadile
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedics and Traumatology Unit, "Sant'Anna e San Sebastiano" Hospital, Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedics and Traumatology Department, "Tor Vergata" University Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tarantino
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masiero
authors.affiliation: IBSA Institut Biochimique SA, Pambio-Noranco, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rovati
authors.affiliation: IBSA Institut Biochimique SA, Pambio-Noranco, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Frangione
keywords: betamethasone valerate; chronic elbow tendinopathy; pain; topical corticosteroids; treatment