Highlights
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Today’s Research Article: PRP vs. Steroids: The Battle for Long-Term Relief – Who Wins?
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Questions from the Field: Dextrose for Blocks? A Hidden Tool for Better Diagnoses & Lasting Relief.
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Let’s Get Down to Business: Boost Efficiency, Reduce No-Shows & Maximize PRP Success.
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Come Join Us: Meet, Learn & Grow – Your Next Big Breakthrough Starts Here!
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Today’s Research Article
Is Ultrasound (US)-Guided Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection More Efficacious as a Treatment Modality for Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy Than US-Guided Steroid Injection?: A Prospective Triple-Blinded Study with Midterm Follow-up
Prashant Kamble, MS, Rudra Mangesh Prabhu, MS, Abhinav Jogani, MS, Shubhranshu S. Mohanty, MS, Sameer Panchal, MS, Shubham Dakhode, MS
Summary:
A recent prospective, triple-blinded study compared ultrasound (US)-guided platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to US-guided steroid injections in treating lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET), commonly known as tennis elbow. The study involved 64 non-athletes who had failed conservative treatments. While corticosteroid injections provided faster short-term relief, their effectiveness diminished over time. In contrast, PRP injections resulted in a more gradual but sustained improvement in pain relief and functional outcomes over a two-year period. The findings suggest that PRP, due to its biological healing properties, is more effective in the long term, whereas steroids mainly offer temporary symptom relief.
The study demonstrated that patients receiving PRP injections had significantly lower pain scores and better functional assessments compared to those in the steroid group after two years. While grip strength improvements were comparable in both groups, PRP-treated patients showed longer-lasting benefits and a lower recurrence rate. Given its regenerative effects, PRP is positioned as a more favorable treatment for LET, especially for patients seeking long-term relief without repeated interventions.
Talking Points for Doctors to Patients: Why Choose PRP
