Local injection treatment for lateral epicondylitis.

Abstract

In a prospective randomized study of lateral epicondylitis, 120 patients were treated with 2 mL lidocaine (Group A, n=60) or 1 mL lidocaine combined with 1 mL triamcinolone (Group B, n=60). All injections were done using the peppering technique: after inserting the needle the tender area was peppered with 40 to 50 injections by injecting, withdrawing, redirecting, and reinserting without emerging from the skin. All patients were followed up for 1 year. Fifty-six patients in Group A and 57 patients in Group B had excellent results. There was statistically no difference between the groups. Both groups had excellent results and because the injection of local anesthetics is known to have no long-term effect in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis, the peppering technique seems to be a reliable method of treatment.