Functional Outcomes of Leukocyte Poor Platelet-rich Plasma Injection in the Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis of the Elbow

Abstract Background: Tennis elbow is common in female elderly patients due to overuse of the forearm and wrist extensors. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a safe, noninvasive modality by which growth factors are produced from platelet concentrates, which helps in the regeneration of damaged tendons. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study assessed leukocyte-poor PRP for lateral epicondylitis in 50 patients unresponsive to conservative treatment. PRP was prepared using a standardized protocol and injected under aseptic conditions. Outcomes were evaluated at baseline, three and 6 months using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain and patient-related tennis elbow evaluation (PRTEE) for function. Results: The mean VAS score improved from 8.8 to 1.7, and the mean PRTEE score improved from 74 to 12. Conclusion: Leukocyte poor PRP injection is a minimally invasive, effective and safe outpatient procedure in treating tennis elbow patients with severe pain. Who do not respond to the conservative method.