The purpose of this study is to prospectively compare the pain and functional outcomes of patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis treated with either intratendinous corticosteroid injection or high energy extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT).
Corticosteroid injections and high energy ESWT are standard therapies for lateral epicondylitis at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. While corticosteroid injections have been shown to be moderately effective in the short term for the condition, a significant minority of patients remains symptomatic. Low energy ESWT has mixed results in the orthopaedic literature, but to date no study has specifically examined the effects of high energy ESWT. The investigators plan to randomize a total of 80 patients with the diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis to either corticosteroid injection or high energy ESWT, and follow them for a total of 12 months. Primary outcomes will be Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, Patient Reported Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) score, Mayo Elbow Score, Veterans Rand-36, and return-to-work status. Patients will be surveyed at baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. All assessments will be done by an independent physician examiner who is blinded to the treatment received.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
80
Following clearance, patients will be booked for ESWT in the operating room either WRNMMC or Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center (KACC), depending on availability. Under conscious sedation, patients will receive 2000 shocks at 18-24kV, which is the standard dose utilized by our clinic in treatment of this condition. The range is necessary to account for differing size of the soft tissue envelope depending on patient habitus. The final dose utilized will be at the surgeon's discretion.
patients will receive an intratendinous injection in the common tendon origin of the extensor/supinators at the lateral epicondyle by an attending orthopaedic hand surgeon. The injection will contain 1cc of Kenalog-40 (triamcinolone 40mg) + 2cc lidocaine 1% (lidocaine HCl 20mg). This is the standard dose for lateral epicondylitis used routinely in the WRNMMC orthopaedic clinic.
Walter Reed National Military Medical Ceneter
Bethesda, Maryland, United States
RECRUITINGVisual Analog Scale (VAS)
VAS is a measurement instrument to quantify pain. Difference between the Kenalog (triamcinolone ) group and extracorporeal shock wave therapy at six months following intervention.
Time frame: 6 months
Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH)
DASH is a questionnaire to measure upper extremity symptoms and ability to perform activities. Difference between the Kenalog (triamcinolone ) group and extracorporeal shock wave therapy at six months following intervention.
Time frame: 6 months
Mayo Elbow Score
Mayo Elbow score is an elbow focused outcome score. Difference between the Kenalog (triamcinolone ) group and extracorporeal shock wave therapy at six months following intervention.
Time frame: 6 months
Veteran Rand 36 Item Health Survey (VR-36)
VR-36 is a 36 item health survey widely used in the veteran population. Difference between the Kenalog (triamcinolone ) group and extracorporeal shock wave therapy at six months following intervention.
Time frame: 6 months
Patient-Related Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE)
PRTEE is a questionnaire to measure pain and disability in patients with lateral epicondylitis. Difference between the Kenalog (triamcinolone ) group and extracorporeal shock wave therapy at six months following intervention.
Time frame: 6 months
Grip Strength
Difference in grip strength between the Kenalog (triamcinolone ) group and extracorporeal shock wave therapy will be determined at six months following intervention.
Time frame: 6 months
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patients will receive an intratendinous injection in the common tendon origin of the extensor/supinators at the lateral epicondyle by an attending orthopaedic hand surgeon. The injection will contain 1cc of Kenalog-40 (triamcinolone 40mg) + 2cc lidocaine 1% (lidocaine HCl 20mg). This is the standard dose for lateral epicondylitis used routinely in the WRNMMC orthopaedic clinic.