Scott L Barker1, Simon N Bell1, David Connell2, Jennifer A Coghlan1. 1. Melbourne Shoulder and Elbow Centre, Brighton, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Monash University Department of Surgery, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. 2. Olympic Park Imaging, AAMI Park, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Distal biceps tendinopathy is an uncommon cause of elbow pain. The optimum treatment for cases refractory to conservative treatment is unclear. Platelet-rich plasma has been used successfully for other tendinopathies around the elbow. METHODS: Six patients with clinical and radiological evidence of distal biceps tendinopathy underwent ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection. Clinical examination findings, visual analogue score (VAS) for pain and Mayo Elbow Performance scores were recorded. RESULTS: The Mayo Elbow Performance Score improved from 68.3 (range 65 to 85) (fair function) to 95 (range 85 to 100) (excellent function). The VAS at rest improved from a mean of 2.25 (range 2 to 5) pre-injection to 0. The VAS with movement improved from a mean of 7.25 (range 5 to 8) pre-injection to 1.3 (range 0 to 2). No complications were noted. DISCUSSION: Ultrasound-guided PRP injection appears to be a safe and effective treatment for recalcitrant cases of distal biceps tendinopathy. Further investigation with a randomized controlled trial is needed to fully assess its efficacy.
BACKGROUND: Distal biceps tendinopathy is an uncommon cause of elbow pain. The optimum treatment for cases refractory to conservative treatment is unclear. Platelet-rich plasma has been used successfully for other tendinopathies around the elbow. METHODS: Six patients with clinical and radiological evidence of distal biceps tendinopathy underwent ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection. Clinical examination findings, visual analogue score (VAS) for pain and Mayo Elbow Performance scores were recorded. RESULTS: The Mayo Elbow Performance Score improved from 68.3 (range 65 to 85) (fair function) to 95 (range 85 to 100) (excellent function). The VAS at rest improved from a mean of 2.25 (range 2 to 5) pre-injection to 0. The VAS with movement improved from a mean of 7.25 (range 5 to 8) pre-injection to 1.3 (range 0 to 2). No complications were noted. DISCUSSION: Ultrasound-guided PRP injection appears to be a safe and effective treatment for recalcitrant cases of distal biceps tendinopathy. Further investigation with a randomized controlled trial is needed to fully assess its efficacy.
Authors: Luca Maria Sconfienza; Miraude Adriaensen; Domenico Albano; Maria Pilar Aparisi Gómez; Alberto Bazzocchi; Ian Beggs; Bianca Bignotti; Vito Chianca; Angelo Corazza; Danoob Dalili; Miriam De Dea; Jose Luis Del Cura; Francesco Di Pietto; Eleni Drakonaki; Fernando Facal de Castro; Dimitrios Filippiadis; Jan Gielen; Salvatore Gitto; Harun Gupta; Andrea S Klauser; Radhesh Lalam; Silvia Martin; Carlo Martinoli; Giovanni Mauri; Catherine McCarthy; Eugene McNally; Kalliopi Melaki; Carmelo Messina; Rebeca Mirón Mombiela; Benedikt Neubauer; Marina Obradov; Cyprian Olchowy; Davide Orlandi; Athena Plagou; Raquel Prada Gonzalez; Saulius Rutkauskas; Ziga Snoj; Alberto Stefano Tagliafico; Alexander Talaska; Violeta Vasilevska-Nikodinovska; Jelena Vucetic; David Wilson; Federico Zaottini; Marcello Zappia; Georgina Allen Journal: Eur Radiol Date: 2019-12-16 Impact factor: 5.315