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Clinical and Ultrasonographic Results of Intratissue Percutaneous Electrolysis in Lateral Epicondylitis

NCT02085928 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 36

Last updated 2014-03-13

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Lateral epicondylitis (LE) is the most common cause of lateral elbow pain. Intratissue percutaneous electrolysis (EPI technique) is a novel minimally invasive approach which consists in the application of a galvanic current through a puncture needle which produces a local inflammatory process in the soft tissue and the reparation of the affected tissue.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical and ultrasonographic effectiveness of a multimodal program using the intratissue percutaneous electrolysis technique and exercises in the short term for patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis, and to determine whether the clinical outcomes achieved decline over time.

This study is an observational one-way repeated measures design. 36 patients in a clinical setting presenting with lateral epicondylitis (mean age = 38, mean time since injury = 12.6 months) received one session of EPI per week over 4-6 weeks, associated with a home program of eccentric exercise and stretching. The main outcome measures were severity of pain (VAS, digital algometer, Cozen and Thompson tests), disability (DASH questionnaire), structural tendon changes (ultrasound), hypervascularity (power doppler) and patient's perceptions of overall outcome (4-point scale). Measurements at 6, 26 and 52 weeks follow-up included recurrence rates (increase of severity of pain or disability compared to discharge), the perception of overall outcome and success rates. Paired Student t-tests and Chi squared tests were applied to data. Enrollment into this study ended in September 2012.

All outcome measures registered significant improvements between pre-intervention and discharge. Most patients (30, i.e. 83.3%) rated overall outcome as 'successful' at 6 weeks. The ultrasonographic finding revealed that the hypoechoic regions and hypervascularity of the extensor carpi radialis brevis change significantly. At 26 and 52 weeks, all participants (32) perceived a 'successful' outcome. Recurrence rates were null after discharge, and at the 6, 26 and 52 week follow-ups.

Conditions

  • Lateral Epicondylitis

Interventions

OTHER

Intratissue percutaneous electrolysis, associated with eccentric exercise and stretching

* The EPI technique was performed under ultrasound-guidance on the clinically relevant area (or areas of maximum tenderness to palpation and with ultrasonographic degenerative tendon changes) using an intensity of 4-6 mA during 3 seconds, approximately 3 times. We used the EPI machine (Cesmar Electromedicina S.L., Barcelona, Spain) and a GE Logiq E Portable Ultrasound Machine with GE Linear probe 12L-RS (5-13 mhz) (GE Healthcare, Wisconsin, EEUU). * The eccentric exercise program consisted of three series of up to 10 repetitions of eccentric work, repeated twice daily (morning and afternoon), under maximum load (initially with one kilogram) in an optimal and functional pain-free range. * The stretching program consisted of a stretching exercise for the epicondylar muscles consisting in three series of 7 repetitions twice a day (morning and afternoon.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • CEU San Pablo University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Fermin Valera-Garrido, PT, PhD · CEU San Pablo University; MVClinic

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
45 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2012-03-31
Primary Completion
2012-09-30
Completion
2013-09-30

Countries

  • Spain

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT02085928 on ClinicalTrials.gov