Transcutaneous Pulsed Radiofrequency and Corticosteroids Injections in Management of Pain in Lateral Epicondylitis

Lateral epicondylitis (LE), or tennis elbow, is the most common elbow pain condition. Pain in the lateral aspect of the elbow, especially the extensor tendon origin (extensor carpi radialis brevis [ECRB] and extensor digitorum communis [EDC]), is the most consistent symptom. It affects up to 3 % of the population and is usually an overload injury that often follows minor and often unrecognized trauma to the extensor forearm muscles of the forearm.

Transcutaneous pulsed radiofrequency treatment is a noninvasive, needleless, painless, office/outpatient treatment that requires no recovery, sedation, or anesthesia. We were encouraged to research transcutaneous pulsed radiofrequency as a treatment option because of favorable outcomes in previous trials. Therefore, transcutaneous pulsed radiofrequency treatment used successfully in a type of orthopedic surgeries, we designed this trial to examine it in the management of pain in lateral epicondylitis.

Inclusion criteria

• Age from 18-65 years.
• Both sexes.
• Symptomatic lateral epicondylitis for more than 6 months.

Lateral epicondylitis was diagnosed when pain is elicited by two or more of these diagnostic exams:

• Palpation of the lateral epicondyle.
• Resisted wrist extension (Thompson test).
• Chair test. With the shoulder flexed to 60° and the elbow extended, the patient attempts to lift a chair weighing 3.5 kg.

Exclusion criteria

• Severe systemic diseases (diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis).
• Cervical radiculopathy.
• Major trauma or prior surgery in the tendon of the elbow.
• Morbid obese patients (body mass index (BMI) of >35 kg/m2).
• Infection at site of injection.
• Bleeding diathesis and coagulopathy.
• Patients who didn't consent to completing visual analog scale , rated tennis elbow evaluation (PRTEE), disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (Quick DASH) questionnaire. and refuse to participate in the study.