TY - JOUR T1 - Pain relief after intratendinous injections in patients with tennis elbow: results of a randomised study JF - British Journal of Sports Medicine JO - Br J Sports Med SP - 267 LP - 271 DO - 10.1136/bjsm.2007.042762 VL - 42 IS - 4 AU - E Zeisig AU - M Fahlström AU - L Öhberg AU - H Alfredson Y1 - 2008/04/01 UR - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/42/4/267.abstract N2 - Background: “Tennis elbow” is a difficult condition to treat. Ultrasonography (US) and colour Doppler (CD) guided injections with polidocanol targeting the area with increased blood flow in the extensor origin have shown promising clinical results.Objective: To evaluate and compare effects of US and CD guided intratendinous injections with sclerosing polidocanol and a local anaesthetic (lidocaine + epinephrine), in patients with tennis elbow.Design: Prospective, randomised, controlled, double-blind, crossover study.Setting: Sports Medicine Unit, Umeå University.Patients: 32 patients (36 elbows), age range 27 to 66 years, with a long duration of elbow pain diagnosed as tennis elbow, were included in the study. All patients were followed up 3 and 12 months after treatment. Two patients were excluded due to other interventions during the study.Interventions: One US and CD guided injection with the sclerosing agent polidocanol (group 1) or the local anaesthetic lidocaine plus epinephrine (group 2). At the 3 month follow-up, additional injections with polidocanol were offered to both groups (crossover for group 2).Main outcome measures: Satisfaction with treatment (Yes/No), elbow pain during activity (visual analogue scale), and maximum voluntary grip strength.Results: There were no significant (p<0.05) differences in the outcome between group 1 and group 2. In both groups, there was a significantly lower VAS at the 3-month and 12-month follow-ups, and grip strength was significantly higher at the 12-month follow-up.Conclusions: US and CD guided intratendinous injections gave pain relief in patients with tennis elbow. Polidocanol and lidocaine plus epinephrine injections gave similar results. ER -