MSC808

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A phase 4 pilot study to establish if an intramuscular steroid injection is as effective as an intralesional steroid injection in the treatment of tennis elbow?

• IRAS ID

  61563

• Contact name

  Hasan Tahir

• Sponsor organisation

  Whipps Cross University Hospital

• Eudract number

  2010-022131-11

• ISRCTN Number

  ISRCTN

• Research summary

  The aim of this pilot study is to see if there is a difference in the short term (6 weeks) between 2 different steroid injection techniques in tennis elbow. Tennis elbow is pain caused by inflammation of the lateral epicondyle of the humerus, which is the bony prominence on the outside of the elbow joint. Many cases of tennis elbow get better without specific treatment other than avoiding activities which worsen pain. Symptoms can however take up to 2 years to resolve, so relief may be called for in the meantime. Such relief is usually provided a strong anti-inflammatory such as a steroid injection. Steroid injection into the tender area of the elbow is a common treatment which GPs are reluctant to undertake due to a lack of training. A recent shoulder study has shown that intramuscular steroid injections (which does not require specialist training) are as useful as a direct steroid injection into the shoulder joint. As such in this study the hypothesis is that an intramuscular steroid injection will be as useful as a direct injection (intralesional) to the elbow in terms of pain relief and functional disability. Further the intramuscular injection will be less painful and easier to administer, thereby allowing GPs to start immediate treatment and avoid a hospital referral. All in all improving the patient experience.

• REC name

  London - Central Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  10/H0718/76

• Date of REC Opinion

  29 Nov 2010

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion