Results of Local Corticosteroid Injections in Medial Epicondylitis

Objective: To assess the results of local corticosteroid injections in medial epicondylitis Study Design: Descriptive study Place and Duration of Study: Department of Orthopedic MTI Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar from 1st January 2015 to 30th June 2018. Methodology: Twenty four patients with medial epicondylitis presenting to OPD (outpatient department) were included in the study. Each patient was injected with combination of corticosteroid (1 ml of 40 mg of methylprednisolone acetate) and local anaesthetic (1 ml of 2% plain lignocaine) at the point of maximal tenderness on the medial side of the affected elbow. Post-treatment assessment of intensity of pain was done at 8 weeks using VAS pain score. Results: Out of twenty four (n=24) patients, thirteen patients (54.17%) were females and eleven patients (45.83%) were males. Average age of the patients was 43.17 +/- 5.85 SD. In 19 patients (79.17 %), right side was involved while in 5 patients (20.83%), left side was involved. Mean pretreatment VAS was 8.08 +/- 1.7SD and mean post treatment VAS was 1.62 +/- 1.9SD at 8 weeks. Statistically significant decrease was observed in mean VAS pain score at 8 weeks after local corticosteroid injections (p-value <0.001). No patient was lost to follow up. Overall, complications developed in 4 patients (16.67%). Conclusion: Local corticosteroid injection has excellentshort term effect on medial epicondylitis. We recommend comparative long term study to confirm our results.