December 14, 2010 – Cortisone injections, commonly used to treat tendonitis (tennis elbow), could have the opposite effect and delay healing, study finds1 Australian published in the scientific journal The Lancet.
The researchers analyzed 41 clinical trials including 2372 patients. Cortisone injections into a painful tendon, they say, provide short-term relief, but they have a detrimental effect in the medium and long term. Thus, in the event of tendonitis of the elbow, the chances of recovery after 1 year are 21% lower in people who have received an injection compared to those who have not received any treatment.
And the higher the number of cortisone injections, the more harmful the long-term consequences. People who receive 4 injections of cortisone to treat tennis elbow would see their cure rate decrease by 57%, 18 months later.
With regard to other tendonitis, such as those of the shoulder or Achilles tendon, the deleterious effect is not as marked, but the conclusion is the same: corticosteroids do not promote healing.
In contrast, injections of other substances, such as hyaluronic acid, botulinum toxin, lauromacrogol or blood platelets, may be of benefit in the long term, although their effectiveness varies depending on the location of the tendonitis. The researchers point out, however, that the scientific data concerning these therapies are still scarce. In case of tendinitis, there is therefore a safe bet: physiotherapy.
Marine Corniou – PasseportSanté.net
1. Coombes BK, Bisset L, Vicenzino B. Efficacy and safety of corticosteroid injections and other injections for management of tendinopathy: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials, Lancet. 2010 Nov 20; 376 (9754): 1751-67.
