Treatment of Refractory Chronic Lateral Epicondylitis by Ultrasound Guided Injection of Autologus Stem Cells versus Autologus Whole Blood

Background: Lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, is a very common cause of elbow pain among the general population. It is a common presentation in orthopedic clinics.

Patients and Methods: Thirty patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis were included in this prospective study. The patients were divided into two treatments groups. The first group contains seventeen cases treated by local injection of autologous whole blood (group I) whereas the second group contains thirteen cases treated by local injection of autologous stem cells (group II).

Results: In the first group, after a mean follow up of 21.2 months, the average VAS improved from 8.2 to 3.2, the average DASH score improved from 74 to 50 and the average Nirchl score improved from 5.9 to 2.7. In the second group, after a mean follow up of 18.7 months, the average VAS improved from 8.7 to 1.7, the average DASH score improved from 76 to 46 and the average Nirchl score improved from 5.8 to 1.7

Conclusion: Both stem cells and whole blood injections are safe and helpful for treating chronic lateral epicondylitis. Stem cell injection proved to be safer and more effective for treating tendinopathy. Ultrasonography plays an important role in diagnosing the condition, guiding the injection site as well as assessment of the response to treatment.