Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) has shown to be a general stimulation for repair and 1 year results showed promising success percentages. To determine the effectiveness of PRP compared with corticosteroid injections in patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis with a two-year follow-up. A double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted between May 2006 and January 2008. The trial was conducted in two Dutch teaching hospitals. 100 patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis were randomly assigned to a leucocyte-enriched PRP group (n=51) or in the corticosteroid group (n=49). Randomization and allocation to the trial group were carried out by a central computer system. Patients received either a corticosteroid injection or an autologous platelet concentrate injection through a peppering needling technique. The primary analysis included Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain scores and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Outcome (DASH) scores. The PRP group was more often successfully treated than the corticosteroid group (p<.0001). Success was defined as a reduction of 25% on VAS or DASH scores without a re-intervention after 2 years. When baseline VAS and DASH scores were compared with the scores at 2 years follow-up, both groups significantly improved across time (intention-to-treat principle). However, the DASH scores of the corticosteroid group returned back to baseline levels, while the PRP significantly improved (as-treated principle). There were no complications related to the use of PRP. Treatment of patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis with PRP reduces pain and increases function significantly, exceeding the effect of corticosteroid injection even after a follow-up of two years. Future decisions for application of PRP for lateral epicondylitis should be confirmed by further follow-up from this trial and should take into account possible costs and harms as well as benefits

Autologous injection of platelet rich plasma (PRP) stimulates healing process in degenerated tendons. The purpose of this study is to compare the functional outcome of lateral epicondylitis treated with PRP and steroid injection. Tennis elbow patients who failed conservative medical therapy were included and were allocated randomly steroid group (n=70) and PRP group (n=63). Data were collected before procedure, at 4, 8, 12 weeks, 1 year and 2 years after procedure. The main outcome measures were visual analogue score, Mayo elbow performance score, DASH score and hand grip strength. Successful treatment was defined as more than a 25% reduction in visual analogue score or DASH score and more than 75 score in Mayo elbow performance score. We observed that 35 of the 70 patients (50%) in corticosteroid group and 47 of the 63 patients (75%) in PRP group were successful, which was significantly different (p<.001), according to DASH score 37 of the 70 patients (53%) and 47 of the 63 patients (75%) in the PRP group were successful which was also significantly different (P = .005), Mayo elbow performance score was successful in 36 of the 70 patients (51%) in corticosteroid group and 49 of the 63 patients (78%) in PRP group. The improvement in hand grip strength of hand from 24.7kg (mean) 26kg in corticosteroid group and 23.5kg (mean) to 32.9kg (mean) in PRP group. PRP injection for chronic lateral epicondylitis reduces pain, improve functionality and hand grip strength when compared to steroid injection