Treatment of Recalcitrant Lateral Epicondylitis with Autologous Conditioning Plasma

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are part of a developing therapy believed to promote healing using the patient’s own blood components. Certain studies have shown PRP treatment to be effective in the treatment of various tendinopathies such as lateral epicondylitis. Currently there is no standard method for PRP preparation with manufacturers each claiming various benefits for their system. Purpose: Autologous Conditioning serum (ACP) (Arthrex, Naples, Florida) is a recent development that claims to have the same effects of PRP but with reduced cost and procedural time. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the use of ACP injections can have a beneficial effect in the treatment of recalcitrant lateral epicondylitis. Study Design: Case Series Methods: Data was collected prospectively from 76 patients between September 2010 and February 2013, who had undertaken ACP injections for lateral epicondylitis. All patients had failed primary care interventions including physiotherapy, corticosteroid injection and elbow clasps. Clinical outcome was recorded at 6 weeks and 3 months post procedure. Medical records were reviewed at 1-year to check for reoccurrence of symptoms. Results: 90 ACP injections were performed in 76 patients. 55 (61%) patients were symptom free at 3 months after a single injection and 8 (9%) patients had partial improvement. 13 patients underwent a 2nd injection and 6 became symptom free. Conclusion: The results from this study suggest that ACP is an effective treatment option with 61% of patients symptom free after a single injection, 67.8% symptom free after a second injection. These findings demonstrate that ACP can be of benefit in cases that have failed to respond to traditional therapies.