Platelet-Rich Plasma versus Corticosteroid Injection for the Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis: A Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews.
Jordyn A Kemp, Megan A Olson, Matthew A Tao and 1 others
PMID 34123513WHAT IT FOUND
Corticosteroid injections relieve lateral epicondylitis pain in the short term (2-8 weeks).
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are superior for long-term pain relief and function (beyond 8 weeks). PRP preparation and injection techniques vary widely across studies, limiting specific protocol guidance.
Key findings
01Corticosteroid injections were beneficial for short-term pain relief and improved function (2-8 weeks), while PRP injections were more beneficial for long-term pain relief and function (>8 weeks).
02There was a high degree of overlap (28.3%) in the original studies included across the five systematic reviews, suggesting the consistency of findings may partly reflect this redundancy rather than independent evidence.
03Significant inconsistencies exist in PRP preparation methods, including volume, concentration, leukocyte content, and injection technique, which were often not reported in the primary studies.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
High overlap (28.3%) in primary studies across the included systematic reviews means the 'consensus' may not reflect independent evidence. Significant variability and poor reporting of PRP preparation (volume, concentration, leukocyte content) and injection techniques limits the ability to recommend a specific protocol. Inconsistencies in corticosteroid types and doses across studies. One of the five included systematic reviews was rated as low quality due to lack of risk of bias assessment.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume PRP protocols are standardized or interchangeable. The evidence supports PRP for long-term relief, but the studies varied widely in injection volume, concentration, and technique, with many failing to report these details. Clinical outcomes may depend heavily on the specific preparation used.