Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) in Chronic Epicondylitis

Summary

Background Tendinopathy is a difficult problem to manage and can result in significant patient morbidity. Currently, the clinical use of PRP in painful tendons is widespread but its efficacy remains controversial. Current experimental research postulates different efficiency among PRP formulations.Recent reviews showed that most clinical studies in tendinopathies have been performed with L-PRP. The investigators aim to examine the efficacy of pure-PRP in the management of epicondylitis.

The investigators hypothesized that pure PRP associated to needling intervention can enhance tendon healing in epicondylitis, improve function and reduce pain.

Methods and design Randomized double blind controlled trial, a total of 80 patients will be randomly allocated into one of two groups: PRP or control. Interventions: PRP group, ultrasound (US)guided needling associated to delivery of multiple PRP depots each alternate week for a total of two interventions. Control Group: US-guided needling with lidocaine each alternate week for a total of two interventions. Main outcome measure: Changes in pain and activity levels, as assessed by Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH)outcome measure score, before and six months after intervention.The primary end-point is 25% reduction in DASH. The investigators will compare the percentage of patients, in each group, that achieve a successful treatment defined as a reduction of at least 25% in the DASH score.

Secondary outcome measures:Changes in pain and function as assessed by DASH and changes in pain as assessed by the visual analogue scale (VAS)at the 3, 6 and 12 month follow-up. Changes in sonographic features and neovascularity at 3, 6 and 12 months.

Conditions

• Epicondylitis

Interventions

DRUG

US-guided tenotomy with PRP

Blood will be drawn from the patient from the patient's unaffected arm. the anti-coagulated blood will be centrifuged and pure-PRP (without leukocytes) collected. Local anesthetic (lidocaine) will be infiltrated into the subcutaneous tissue of the lateral elbow, after which a single skin portal and multiple longitudinal and transversal penetrations of the tendon will be performed; PRP will be delivered in multiple depots during the procedure

DRUG

US-guided tenotomy with lidocaine

Blood will be drawn from the patient from the patient's unaffected arm. Local anesthetic (lidocaine) will be infiltrated into the subcutaneous tissue of the lateral elbow, after which a single skin portal and multiple longitudinal and transversal penetrations of the tendon will be performed; lidocaine will be delivered in multiple depots during the procedure

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Jose Ignacio Martin

  lead OTHER_GOV

Principal Investigators

• Jose I Martin, MD · Cruces University Hospital, Osakidetza, Basque Health Service

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

35 Years

Max Age

75 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2014-04-30

Primary Completion

2018-07-01

Completion

2018-07-01

Countries

• Spain

Study Locations