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Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - British Volume, Vol 85-B, Issue 6, 852-855.
doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.85B6.13909  
Copyright © 2003 by British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery
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Extracorporeal shock-wave treatment for tennis elbow

A RANDOMISED DOUBLE-BLIND STUDY

E. Y. Melikyan, FRCS, Fellow in Hand and Upper Limb Surgery1; E. Shahin, MD, Fellow in Hand Surgery2; J. Miles, PhD, Lecturer in Biostatistics3; and L. C. Bainbridge, FRCS, Consultant in Hand and Plastic Surgery2

1 Department of Orthopaedics, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK.
2 Pulvertaft Hand Centre, Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, London Road, Derby DE1 2QY, UK.
3 Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK.

Correspondence should be sent to Mr E. Y. Melikyan.

The efficacy of extracorporeal shock-wave therapy for tennis elbow was investigated using a single fractionated dosage in a randomised, double-blind study. Outcomes were assessed using the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire, measurements of grip strength, levels of pain, analgesic usage and the rate of progression to surgery. Informed consent was obtained before patients were randomised to either the treatment or placebo group. In the final assessment, 74 patients (31 men and 43 women) with a mean age of 43.4 years (35 to 71), were included.

None of the outcome measures showed a statistically significant difference between the treatment and control groups (p > 0.05). All patients improved significantly over time, regardless of treatment. Our study showed no evidence that extracorporeal shock-wave therapy for tennis elbow is better than placebo.






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Hip, Knee, Trauma, Upper limb, Foot & Ankle, Paediatrics, Oncology, Spine, Arthroplasty, General