Effectiveness of corticosteroid injections compared with physiotherapeutic interventions for lateral epicondylitis: A systematic review

Objectives

To compare the effectiveness of corticosteroid injections with physiotherapeutic interventions for the treatment of lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow).

Data sources

The electronic databases AMED, Cinahl, Medline and Embase were searched up to Week 12 2009. In addition, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Clinical Trials, the Metaregister of Controlled Clinical Trials and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) were searched up to March 2009.

Review methods

All English-language randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that included participants with a clinical diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis, comparing corticosteroid injections with physiotherapeutic interventions, and used at least one clinically relevant outcome measure were included. The review authors extracted and analysed the data independently, using the PEDro scale to assess the methodological quality of each eligible study.

Results

Five RCTs were identified and included in the review. Four of the studies included the measurement of pain-free grip strength. Standardised mean differences (effect sizes) were calculated for this outcome measure and assessor's rating of severity at 3, 6, 12, 26 and 52 weeks for two of the RCTs. Large effect sizes were demonstrated in favour of corticosteroid injections at short-term follow-up. At intermediate- and long-term follow-up, medium-to-large effect sizes were demonstrated in favour of physiotherapeutic interventions compared with corticosteroid injections. However, at long-term follow-up, the research suggests that there is a small benefit of physiotherapeutic interventions compared with a ‘wait and see’ policy.

Conclusion

Overall, the findings indicated that corticosteroid injections are effective at short-term follow-up, and physiotherapeutic interventions are effective at intermediate- and long-term follow-up. However, due to the limited number of high-quality RCTs and differences in the interventions and outcomes utilised within each of the included studies, any conclusions drawn must be interpreted with caution.     

Effectiveness of physiotherapy for lateral epicondylitis: a systematic review

AIM: To evaluate the available evidence of the effectiveness of physiotherapy for lateral epicondylitis of the elbow. METHOD: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) identified by a highly sensitive search strategy in six databases in combination with reference checking. Two independent reviewers selected RCTs that included a physiotherapy intervention, patients with lateral epicondylitis, and at least one clinically relevant outcome measure. No language restrictions were made. Methodological quality was independently assessed by two blinded reviewers. A best evidence synthesis, including a quantitative and qualitative analysis, was conducted, weighting the studies with respect to their internal validity, statistical significance, clinical relevance, and statistical power. RESULTS: 23 RCTs were included in the review, evaluating the effects of lasertherapy, ultrasound treatment, electrotherapy, and exercises and mobilisation techniques. Fourteen studies satisfied at least 50% of the internal validity criteria. Except for ultrasound, pooling of data from RCTs was not possible because of insufficient data, or clinical or statistical heterogeneity. The pooled estimate of the treatment effects of two studies on ultrasound compared to placebo ultrasound, showed statistically significant and clinically relevant differences in favour of ultrasound. There is insufficient evidence either to demonstrate benefit or lack of effect of lasertherapy, electrotherapy, exercises and mobilisation techniques for lateral epicondylitis. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the large number of studies, there is still insufficient evidence for most physiotherapy interventions for lateral epicondylitis due to contradicting results, insufficient power, and the low number of studies per intervention. Only for ultrasound, weak evidence for efficacy was found. More better designed, conducted and reported RCTs are needed.     

Effectiveness of physiotherapy for lateral epicondylitis: a systematic review

AIM: To evaluate the available evidence of the effectiveness of physiotherapy for lateral epicondylitis of the elbow. METHOD: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) identified by a highly sensitive search strategy in six databases in combination with reference checking. Two independent reviewers selected RCTs that included a physiotherapy intervention, patients with lateral epicondylitis, and at least one clinically relevant outcome measure. No language restrictions were made. Methodological quality was independently assessed by two blinded reviewers. A best evidence synthesis, including a quantitative and qualitative analysis, was conducted, weighting the studies with respect to their internal validity, statistical significance, clinical relevance, and statistical power. RESULTS: 23 RCTs were included in the review, evaluating the effects of lasertherapy, ultrasound treatment, electrotherapy, and exercises and mobilisation techniques. Fourteen studies satisfied at least 50% of the internal validity criteria. Except for ultrasound, pooling of data from RCTs was not possible because of insufficient data, or clinical or statistical heterogeneity. The pooled estimate of the treatment effects of two studies on ultrasound compared to placebo ultrasound, showed statistically significant and clinically relevant differences in favour of ultrasound. There is insufficient evidence either to demonstrate benefit or lack of effect of lasertherapy, electrotherapy, exercises and mobilisation techniques for lateral epicondylitis. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the large number of studies, there is still insufficient evidence for most physiotherapy interventions for lateral epicondylitis due to contradicting results, insufficient power, and the low number of studies per intervention. Only for ultrasound, weak evidence for efficacy was found. More better designed, conducted and reported RCTs are needed.     

局部封闭治疗肱骨外上髁炎疗效分析

目的探讨肱骨外上髁炎局部封闭治疗的疗效。方法对39例肱骨外上髁炎病例进行局部肌筋膜内注射复方倍他米松注射液(封闭治疗),并结合4周肘部制动治疗。结果采用封闭治疗的39例均取得了满意疗效,优良率为94.9%,复发率为7.7%;与对照组相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论局部封闭治疗肱骨外上髁炎可取得较好疗效,为保守治疗肱骨外上髁炎的首选方法。     

Ultrasound therapy for musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound therapy is used frequently to reduce pain and related disability, mainly by physiotherapists. The objective of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound therapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. METHODS: Published reports of randomized clinical trials investigating the effects of ultrasound therapy on pain, disability or range of motion were identified by a systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane databases, supplemented with citation tracking. The quality of methods of all selected publications was assessed systematically by two independent and 'blinded' reviewers, using ten validity criteria. Data from the original publications were used to calculate the differences between groups for success rate, pain, disability and range of motion. Statistical pooling was performed if studies were homogeneous with respect to study populations, interventions, outcome measures and timing of follow-up. RESULTS: 38 Studies were included in the review, evaluating the effects of ultrasound therapy for lateral epicondylitis (n = 6), shoulder pain (n = 7), degenerative rheumatic disorders (n = 10), ankle distorsions (n = 4), temporomandibular pain or myofacial pain (n = 4) and a variety of other disorders (n = 7). In 11 out of 13 placebo-controlled trials with validity scores of at least five out of ten points, no evidence of clinically important or statistically significant results was found. Statistical pooling was only feasible for placebo-controlled trials on lateral epicondylitis, and produced a pooled estimate for the difference in success rate of 15% (95% confidence interval -8%-38%). CONCLUSIONS: As yet, there seems to be little evidence to support the use of ultrasound therapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. The large majority of 13 randomized placebo-controlled trials with adequate methods did not support the existence of clinically important or statistically significant differences in favour of ultrasound therapy. Nevertheless, our findings for lateral epicondylitis may warrant further investigation.     

超声引导下类固醇激素介入和体外冲击波治疗肱骨外上髁炎的临床疗效

目的观察并评估对肱骨外上髁炎患者进行超声引导下类固醇激素介入治疗和体外冲击波治疗的临床疗效的差异。 方法回顾性分析2018年7月至10月在南京医科大学第一附属医院骨科门诊治疗并获得完整随访的肱骨外上髁炎患者61例。按照治疗方法不同分为超声引导下类固醇激素介入治疗组（A组）31例和体外冲击波治疗组（B组）30例。采用t检验比较2组患者治疗前后的VAS评分、PRTEE功能评分和握力变化的差异,采用χ²检验比较组间复发率的差异。 结果所有病例均获得随访,平均随访时间（7.2±0.9）个月。治疗后1个月时,A组VAS评分低于B组［（1.8±0.4）分vs（3.2±0.5）分］,差异具有统计学意义（t=-12.0959,P<0.001）;治疗后3个月时,2组VAS评分和PRTEE功能评分比较,差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。治疗后6个月时,A组VAS评分和PRTEE功能评分均低于B组［（1.7±0.3）分vs（2.8±0.4）分;（13.2±2.9）分vs（22.3±5.1）分］,A组握力变化和复发率也低于B组［（12.3±2.5）% vs（28.4±3.2）%;0/31 vs 4/30］,差异均具有统计学意义（t=-12.1772、-8.6024、-21.9381,P<0.001、<0.001、<0.001、=0.035）。 结论在治疗肱骨外上髁炎时,超声引导下类固醇激素介入治疗较体外冲击波治疗具有注射精准,起效快,临床疗效持久,不易复发的优势。但体外冲击波治疗具有无创,安全的优势,也是一种适合临床应用的有效治疗手段。     

Comparison of the effectiveness of local corticosteroid injection and extracorporeal shock wave therapy in patients with lateral epicondylitis

[Purpose] This study aimed to determine and compare the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and local corticosteroid injection in patients with lateral epicondylitis. [Subjects and Methods] Sixty-four patients with lateral epicondylitis were randomly divided into extracorporeal shock wave therapy and steroid injection groups. Patients were evaluated using hand grip strength, visual analog scale, and short-form McGill pain questionnaire at baseline and at 4 and 12 weeks post-treatment. [Results] Both groups showed statistically significant increase in hand grip strength and decreases on the visual analog scale and short form McGill pain questionnaire overtime. There was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of improvement in hand grip strength and on the short-form McGill pain questionnaire between groups at 4 weeks post-treatment, whereas the extracorporeal shock wave therapy group showed better results on the visual analog scale. The percentages of improvements in all 3 parameters were higher in the extracorporeal shock wave therapy group than in the injection group at 12 weeks post-treatment. [Conclusion] Both the extracorporeal shock wave therapy and steroid injection were safe and effective in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis. However, extracorporeal shock wave therapy demonstrated better outcomes than steroid injection at the long-term follow-up.Key words: Lateral epicondylitis, Corticosteroid injection, Extracorporeal shock wave therapy     

Effectiveness of Oral Pain Medication and Corticosteroid Injections for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Objective

To present an evidence-based overview of the effectiveness of oral pain medication and corticosteroid injections to treat carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Effectiveness of Conservative,Surgical, and Postsurgical Interventions for Trigger Finger,Dupuytren Disease,and De Quervain Disease: A Systematic Review

Objectives

To provide an evidence-based overview of the effectiveness of conservative and (post)surgical interventions for trigger finger, Dupuytren disease, and De Quervain disease.

PEER systematic review of randomized controlled trials: Management of chronic low back pain in primary care

ObjectiveTo determine the proportion of chronic low back pain patients who achieve a clinically meaningful response from different pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments.Data sourcesMEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and gray literature search.Study selectionPublished randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that reported a responder analysis of adults with chronic low back pain treated with any of the following 15 interventions: oral or topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), exercise, acupuncture, spinal manipulation therapy, corticosteroid injections, acetaminophen, oral opioids, anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, cannabinoids, oral muscle relaxants, or topical rubefacients.SynthesisA total of 63 RCTs were included. There was moderate certainty that exercise (risk ratio [RR] of 1.71; 95% CI 1.37 to 2.15; number needed to treat [NNT] of 7), oral NSAIDs (RR = 1.44; 95% CI 1.17 to 1.78; NNT = 6), and SNRIs (duloxetine; RR = 1.25; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.38; NNT = 10) provide clinically meaningful benefits to patients with chronic low back pain. Exercise was the only intervention with sustained benefit (up to 48 weeks). There was low certainty that spinal manipulation therapy and topical rubefacients benefit patients. The benefit of acupuncture disappeared in higher-quality, longer (> 4 weeks) trials. Very low-quality evidence demonstrated that corticosteroid injections are ineffective. Patients treated with opioids had a greater likelihood of discontinuing treatment owing to an adverse event (number needed to harm of 5) than continuing treatment to derive any clinically meaningful benefit (NNT = 16), while those treated with SNRIs (duloxetine) had a similar likelihood of continuing treatment to attain benefit (NNT = 10) as those discontinuing the medication owing to an adverse event (number need to harm of 11). One trial each of anticonvulsants and topical NSAIDs found similar benefit to that of placebo. No RCTs of acetaminophen, cannabinoids, muscle relaxants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or tricyclic antidepressants met the inclusion criteria.ConclusionExercise, oral NSAIDs, and SNRIs (duloxetine) provide a clinically meaningful reduction in pain, with exercise being the only intervention that demonstrated sustained benefit after the intervention ended. Future high-quality trials that report responder analyses are required to provide a better understanding of the benefits and harms of interventions for patients with chronic low back pain.     

Platelet-Rich Plasma versus Corticosteroid Injection for the Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis: A Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews

BackgroundLateral epicondylitis (LE) is one of the most commonly reported musculoskeletal disorders in the upper extremity. The mechanism of LE is repetitive motion that causes a strain of the extensor tendons. This consequently causes pain and tendinosis at the tendinous attachment site on the lateral epicondyle. Most cases of LE are treated nonoperatively with a variety of interventions, such as injections.PurposeThe aim of this systematic review (SR) is to synthesize the current evidence on the efficacy of platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections versus corticosteroid (CS) injections as treatment interventions for LE.Study DesignSystematic ReviewMethodsOnline databases were searched from database inception to February 24th, 2020 for relevant SR’s evaluating PRP vs. CS injections as treatment methods for LE. Two independent researchers searched and screened for articles that were systematic reviews that directly compared PRP to CS injections for LE.ResultsA total of five SR’s were included in this review that were published between 2016 and 2020. CS injections were more efficacious for short-term pain relief, and PRP injections were more efficacious for long-term pain relief and improved function.ConclusionPRP injections appear to be a more effective long-term treatment option than CS injections for those with LE who did not respond to conservative management.Level of evidence1     

玻璃酸钠注射结合针刀治疗肱骨外上髁炎的临床分析

目的探讨玻璃酸钠注射结合针刀治疗肱骨外上髁炎的疗效。方法将102例肱骨外上髁炎患者,按接诊先后顺序,单号为观察组51例,双号为对照组51例,两组治疗重点均在桡骨头环状关节面上。治疗组采用玻璃酸钠注射结合针刀治疗;对照组采用混合液局部注射结合针刀治疗。两组均在治疗后6个月随访。结果治疗组的疗效优于对照组(P0.05)。6个月后随访,治疗组无复发病例,对照组有7例复发。结论玻璃酸钠注射结合针刀治疗肱骨外上髁炎时,重点在桡骨头环状关节面上,疗效肯定,逐日递增,远期疗效稳定。     

Changes in Pain,Dysfunction, and Grip Strength of Patients with Acute Lateral Epicondylitis Caused by Frequency of Physical Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in pain, dysfunction, and grip strength of patients with acute lateral epicondylitis and to suggest the appropriate treatment frequency and period. [Subjects] The subjects were divided into three: 2 days per week group (n=12), 3 days per week group (n=15), and 6 days per week group (n=13). [Methods] All groups received conventional physical therapy for 40 minutes and therapeutic exercises for 20 minutes per session during 6 weeks. The outcome measurements were the visual analogue scale (VAS), Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE), and grip strength. [Results] The results of this study were as follows: at 3 weeks, there were no significant differences in VAS and PRTEE in the 3 groups, but at 6 weeks, 6 days per week group significantly decreased these two outcomes. Grip strength was significantly increased in 3 and 6 days per week groups at 6 weeks. [Conclusion] In conclusion, physical therapy is needed 3 days per week for 3 weeks in patients with acute lateral epicondylitis. After 3 weeks, 6 days per week is the most effective treatment frequency.     

Audit of conservative management of chronic low back pain in a secondary care setting--part I: facet joint and sacroiliac joint interventions

The work of a chronic back pain service in secondary care in the West Midlands is reported. The service offers acupuncture, spinal injection procedures, osteopathy and a range of other interventions for patients whose back pain has not responded to conservative management. This section of the report focuses on injection procedures for lumbar facet joint and sacroiliac joint pain, which have been shown to be the cause of chronic low back pain in 16-40% and 13-19% of patients respectively. Diagnosis relies on the use of intra-articular or sensory nerve block injections with local anaesthetic. Possible treatments following diagnosis include intra-articular corticosteroid, radiofrequency denervation (for facet joint pain) or ligament prolotherapy injections (for sacroiliac joint pain). The results of several hospital audits are reported. At six month follow up, 50% of 38 patients undergoing radiofrequency denervation following diagnostic blocks for facet joint pain had improved by more than 50%, compared to 29% of 34 patients treated with intra-articular corticosteroid injection. Sixty three per cent of 19 patients undergoing prolotherapy following diagnostic block injection for sacroiliac joint pain had improved at six months, compared to 33% of 33 who had intra-articular corticosteroid. Both radiofrequency denervation and sacroiliac prolotherapy showed good long-term outcomes at one year.     

Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy: A Systematic Review of Interventions

BackgroundProximal hamstring tendinopathy affects athletic and non-athletic populations and is associated with longstanding buttock pain. The condition is common in track and field, long distance running and field-based sports. Management options need to be evaluated to direct appropriate clinical management.Purpose/HypothesisTo evaluate surgical and non-surgical interventions used in managing proximal hamstring tendinopathy.Study designSystematic reviewMethodsElectronic databases were searched to January 2019. Studies (all designs) investigating interventions for people with proximal hamstring tendinopathy were eligible. Outcomes included symptoms, physical function, quality of life and adverse events. Studies were screened for risk of bias. Reporting quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool (Randomized Controlled Trials [RCT]) and the Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist (Case Series). Effect sizes (Standard mean difference or Standard paired difference) of 0.2, 0.5 and 0.8 were considered as small, medium and large respectively. Overall quality of evidence was rated according to GRADE guidelines.ResultsTwelve studies (2 RCTs and 10 case series) were included (n=424; males 229). RCTs examined the following interventions: platelet-rich plasma injection (n=1), autologous whole-blood injection (n=1), shockwave therapy (n=1) and multi-modal intervention (n=1). Case series included evaluation of the following interventions: platelet-rich plasma injection (n=3), surgery (n=4), corticosteroid injection (n=2), multi-modal intervention + platelet-rich plasma injection (n=1). Very low-level evidence found shockwave therapy was more effective than a multi-modal intervention, by a large effect on improving symptoms (-3.22 SMD; 95% CI -4.28, -2.16) and physical function (-2.42 SMD; 95% CI-3.33, -1.50) in the long-term. There was very low-level evidence of no difference between autologous whole-blood injection and platelet-rich plasma injection on physical function (0.17 SMD; 95% CI -0.86, 1.21) to (0.24 SMD; 95% CI -0.76, 1.24) and quality of life (-0.04 SMD; 95%CI -1.05, 0.97) in the medium-term. There was very low-quality evidence that surgery resulted in a large reduction in symptoms (-1.89 SPD; 95% CI -2.36, -1.41) to (-6.02 SPD; 95% CI -8.10, -3.94) and physical function (-4.08 SPD; 95%CI -5.53, -2.63) in the long-term.ConclusionsThere is insufficient evidence to recommend any one intervention over another. A pragmatic approach would be to initially trial approaches proven successful in other tendinopathies.Level of evidenceLevel 2a     

Murine neonatal intravascular injections: modeling newborn disease.

The ability to perform murine neonatal intravascular injections likely will prove useful in studying many newborn-specific disease states that are modeled in mice. Unfortunately, effective intravascular injection in the neonatal mouse has been limited by developmental immaturity and small size. To establish a mouse model of neonatal intravascular injection, C57Bl/6 pups between birth and 6 d of age were injected with a buffered solution containing cells or vehicle alone. For both external jugular and superficial temporal vein injections, a 2-member team was used to position the pup, insert the needle, and perfuse the injectate. For superficial temporal vein injections, the vascular anatomy was visualized by using transillumination. After injection into the jugular or superficial temporal vein, the survival rate to adulthood was 100% (n = 30 pups per group), with no long-term complications. Occasional extravasation of injectate was well tolerated, allowing for serial injections (n = 40 pups). Intravascular access was confirmed by using fluorescent dye perfusion studies and cellular engraftment analysis. The 2 techniques are safe and reproducible methods of obtaining intravascular access via the external jugular and superficial temporal veins in newborn mice. These methods provide a mechanism for delivering a wide variety of substances, ranging from aqueous solutions to suspensions.     

Intravenous injection of methylprednisolone reduces the incidence of postextubation stridor in intensive care unit patients

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether treatment with corticosteroids decreases the incidence of postextubation airway obstruction in an adult intensive care unit. DESIGN: Clinical experiment. SETTING: Adult medical and surgical intensive care unit of a teaching hospital. PATIENTS: One hundred twenty-eight patients who were intubated for >24 hrs with a cuff leak volume <24% of tidal volume and met weaning criteria. INTERVENTIONS:: Patients were randomized into a placebo group (control, n = 43) receiving four injections of normal saline every 6 hrs, a 4INJ group (n = 42) receiving four injections of methylprednisolone sodium succinate, or a 1INJ group (n = 42) receiving one injection of the corticosteroid followed by three injections of normal saline. Cuff volume was assessed 1 hr after each injection, and extubation was performed 1 hr after the last injection. Postextubation stridor was confirmed by examination using bronchoscopy or laryngoscopy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The incidences of postextubation stridor were lower both in the 1INJ and the 4INJ groups than in the control group (11.6% and 7.1% vs. 30.2%, both p < .05), whereas there was no difference between the two treated groups (p = .46). The cuff leak volume increased after the second and fourth injection in the 4INJ group and after a second injection in the 1INJ group compared with the control group (both p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: A reduced cuff leak volume is a reliable indicator to identify patients at high risk to develop stridor. Treatment with a single or multiple injections of methylprednisolone can effectively reduce the occurrence of postextubation stridor.     

不同部位和途径注射胶原酶治疗腰椎间盘突出症有效性与安全性的系统评价

目的运用Cochrane系统评价的方法评价不同部位和不同途径注射胶原酶治疗腰椎间盘突出症的有效性和安全性,以期为临床合理选择注射部位和途径提供依据。方法计算机检索PubMed(1966-2006．5)、EMbase(1966～2006．5)、Cochrane图书馆(2006年第2期)、CRD(Center for Reviews and Dissemination,York University)和CBM(1978～2006．5)、CNKI (1994～2006)、VIP(1989～2006),同时筛检了纳入文献的参考文献。收集有关不同部位和途径注射胶原酶治疗腰椎间盘突出症的随机和半随机对照试验,由两名评价员独立评价文献质量。结果共纳入8个研究,1035例患者。由于纳入研究间存在异质性,未能进行合并分析。其中,4个研究为比较盘内、盘外及盘内外注射,结果显示胶原酶盘内、盘外和盘内外注射的近、远期有效率的差异均无统计学意义。另4个研究(436例)为盘外法注射中各间隙比较,其中1个研究结果(100例)显示,前间隙与侧间隙注射胶原酶均优于后间隙注射;其余研究(纳入病例数均小于50例)显示,三个间隙注射疗效相似(P值均大于0．05)。结论目前尚无证据证明不同部位注射胶原酶治疗腰椎间盘突出症的效果有何差异,但不同间隙注射的研究显示注射到前间隙与侧间隙均优于后间隙。由于每种注射部位和途径纳入的研究数少,质量不高,且诊断标准、随访时间、结果测量指标和判效标准等均不一致,因此需要开展大样本、多中心、方法科学、规范的高质量随机对照试验进一步验证。     

Musculoskeletal injections: a review of the evidence

Injections are valuable procedures for managing musculoskeletal conditions commonly encountered by family physicians. Corticosteroid injections into articular, periarticular, or soft tissue structures relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and improve mobility. Injections can provide diagnostic information and are commonly used for postoperative pain control. Local anesthetics may be injected with corticosteroids to provide additional, rapid pain relief. Steroid injection is the preferred and definitive treatment for de Quervain tenosynovitis and trochanteric bursitis. Steroid injections can also be helpful in controlling pain during physical rehabilitation from rotator cuff syndrome and lateral epicondylitis. Intra-articular steroid injection provides pain relief in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. There is little systematic evidence to guide medication selection for therapeutic injections. The medication used and the frequency of injection should be guided by the goal of the injection (i.e., diagnostic or therapeutic), the underlying musculoskeletal diagnosis, and clinical experience. Complications from steroid injections are rare, but physicians should understand the potential risks and counsel patients appropriately. Patients with diabetes who receive periarticular or soft tissue steroid injections should closely monitor their blood glucose for two weeks following injection.     

Nonsurgical treatment of tennis elbow]

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature on nonsurgical treatment of tennis elbow. METHODS: We searched Medline for all randomized controlled trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials (CCTs) and literature reviews published from 1966 to December 2003 on nonsurgical treatment of tennis elbow. We used the keys words controlled clinical trial, tennis elbow on lateral epicondylitis, and treatment. We found 46 reports of RCTs and CCTs on 14 nonsurgical treatments and 11 literature reviews. RESULTS: Corticosteroid injection is the best treatment option for the short term. However, beneficial effects persisted only for a short time, and the long-term outcome could be poor. For the long term, physiotherapy (pulsed ultrasound, deep friction massage and exercise programme) was the best option but was not significantly different from the "wait-and-see" approach. Some support is offered for the use of topical nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs, at least for the short term. There is insufficient evidence to support or refute the use of acupuncture, extracorporeal shock wave therapy, manipulation, orthoses, low-energy laser, glycosaminoglycan polysulfate injection, botulinum toxin injection, or topical nitric oxide application. CONCLUSION: Further trials, with use of appropriate methods and adequate sample sizes, are needed before conclusions can be drawn about the effects of many of the treatments for tennis elbow and their ability to change the condition's natural course.