COMPARING THE OUTCOMES OF LOCAL STEROID INJECTION AND THERAPEUTIC ULTRASOUND IN LATERAL EPICONDYLITIS

Abstract

Objective: “To compare local steroid injection and therapeutic ultrasound in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis”.

Study design: Quasi Experimental Trial.
Study place and duration: Orthopedics Department KRL Hospital Islamabad for 06 months (Feb-Jul 2024)

Patients and methods: 200 patients were divided into two groups. The first group was treated with Local Steroid Injection and the rest with Ultrasound. Each patient received a total of eight sessions of ultrasound therapy during the first 4 weeks of treatment with twice weekly sessions. Efficacy of the treatment modalities was evaluated at 1 and 6 weeks using the Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation questionnaire. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) v.25.

Results: The mean age in local steroid injection group was 40.64 ± 11.96 years while in ultrasound group was 38.46 ± 11.20 years. At baseline the mean pain score was 40.33 ± 5.83 vs. 38.79 ± 6.03 (p-value >0.05) that was reduced to 11.35 ± 4.89 vs. 16.75 ± 4.33 after 6 weeks respectively (p-value <0.05). At baseline the mean functional disability score was 44.75 ± 8.97 vs. 44.85 ± 8.43 (p-value >0.05) that was reduced to 15.55 ± 3.70 vs. 19.46 ± 3.80 after 6 weeks respectively (p-value <0.05). At baseline the mean usual activities score was 29.72 ± 6.29 vs. 29.26 ± 5.72 (p-value >0.05) that was reduced to 7.76 ± 3.66 vs. 11.44 ± 2.54, respectively (p-value <0.05) after 6 weeks.

Conclusion: Thus, local steroid injection is better than therapeutic ultrasound in functionality of elbow joint