PRINT Trial (Platelet Rich Injection vs Needle Tenotomy)

NCT03504111 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: IRB #11064
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Chronic tendinopathy is often very difficult to treat and causes many patients who suffer from it to have significant pain and loss of function leading to disability. Ultrasound has been shown to be very effective in aiding in the diagnosis of soft tissue disorders including tendinopathy and can help to rule in or out other potential causes that may be confounders. Numerous methods have been tried to treat tendinopathy including rest, NSAIDs, bracing, physical therapy, extracorporal shock wave therapy, anesthetic injections, steroid injections, prolotherapy, nitro patches, surgery and more recently platelet rich plasma, all of which have had conflicting results in the literature. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous blood product that contains a high concentration of platelet-derived growth factors that have the potential to enhance healing. In a study by Mishra et al, common extensor tenindosis showed improved pain symptoms (71% vs 55% at 24 weeks) with tenontomy combined with PRP compared to percutaneous needle tenontomy alone. Current studies show conflicting results as to whether PRP improves chronic tendinopathy when compared to steroid injections, and many do not have any control group or comparison group. Percutaneous needle tenotomy is the use of a large gauge needle (18 gauge), which may be performed under ultrasound guidance, to fenestrate repeatedly the area of tendinopathy within a tendon in order to disrupt tendinopathic tissue and to induce bleeding and clot formation with release of growth factors. To date there are no published studies comparing percutaneous needle tenotomy (PNT) alone vs. PRP without concomitant tenotomy. Current literature suggests that needle tenotomy may be superior but no head to head studies are currently found in the literature. Most of the published literature of non-operative treatment of tendinosis does not yield clearly designed trials with clear selection criteria. Current literature also lacks studies with significant number of patients that meet both clinical and ultrasound criteria thus previous studies lack sufficient power. The PRINT TRIAL: may enhance the understanding of a superior treatment if it exists. Hypothesis: In active adults with chronic tendinopathy who have failed to respond to standard of care treatment, the use of ultrasound guided percutaneous needle tenotomy (PNT) alone is superior to PRP without concomitant tenotomy.

Conditions

Lateral Epicondylitis; Tendinosis; Elbow, Tennis; Elbows Tendonitis

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in DASH Symptoms Score

  Disabilities of the arms, shoulder and hand symptoms questionnaire and score

  Change in symptom score between pre-study and 1 year

Study Arms (2)

Needle Tenotomy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

1 group will be assigned to get the standard treatment for chronic tendinopathy, percutaneous needle tenotomy (PNT). It is currently considered a standard treatment option. Ultrasound guided PNT with approximately 25 passes through the tendon and enthesis with approximately an 18 gauge needle with adequate amount of anesthetic (lidocaine) for effective anesthesia. Investigators will keep track of the number of passes through the tendon. Investigators will keep track of the amount and type of anesthetic used

Procedure: Percutaneous Needle Tenotomy

Platelet Rich Plasma

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

1 group will be assigned to the PRP arm. Investigators will have a trained provider draw the blood, and prepare the PRP according to manufacturer and departmental (KP) protocol. Ultrasound guided injection of this PRP using approximately an 18 gauge needle with a single pass through the tendon into affected area as demonstrated on ultrasound. Adequate amount of anesthetic will be given in a separate syringe with adequate amount of anesthetic (lidocaine) for effective anesthesia. Investigators will keep track of amount and type of anesthetic used. The amount of anesthesia will be the same in both arms of the study

Procedure: PRP

Interventions

Percutaneous Needle Tenotomy PROCEDURE

A sham phlebotomy sample will be drawn on all study participants. Participants in this treatment group will be given local anesthesia with 1% lidocaine and then blinded to the intervention using a blind fold or shielding. Ultrasound guided needle tenontomy with be performed at the common extensor tendon at the area of tendinosis. There will be approximately 25 passes through the tendon with an 18 gauge needle. Investigators will keep track of the number of passes through the tendon. Investigators will keep track of the amount and type of anesthetic used to provide adequate and effective anesthesia

Also known as: Needle Fenestration

Needle Tenotomy

PRP PROCEDURE

A sham phlebotomy sample will be drawn on all study participants. Participants in this treatment group will be given local anesthesia with 1% lidocaine and then blinded to the intervention using a blind fold or shielding. Ultrasound guided injection of the PRP will be performed at the common extensor tendon at the area of tendinosis. Investigators will keep track of the amount and type of anesthetic used to provide adequate and effective anesthesia to the local skin

Also known as: Platelet Rich Plasma

Platelet Rich Plasma

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Adults: 18 years and older
• Diagnosed with: Lateral epicondylitis or common extensor tendinopathy
• Has had symptoms for more than 3 months
• Failed conservative treatment with an eccentric loading protocol that was formally taught and attempted for at least 6 weeks.
• Failed at least 1 corticosteroid injection (anatomically or ultrasound guided injection)

You may not qualify if:

• Age less than 18 years
• Pregnant or breast feeding females
• Previous surgery to the area of interest
• Previous needling procedure to the area of interest in the last 3 months
• Previous steroid injection to the area of interest in the last 3 months
• Previous PRP or autologous blood or prolotherapy to the area of interest
• Patients treated for a Workers Compensation related injury
• Any systemic disease that may play a causative role or delay in healing such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, immunodeficiency
• Severe degenerative bone disease or severe vascular disease that may be a confounder
• Diagnosis of concomitant nerve involvement in area of interest:
• Carpal tunnel, radial nerve impingement, cervical radiculopathy in patients with lateral epicondylitis
• Any contraindication to use of lidocaine or injections
• Will record if patient is taking any medications that may alter bleeding or clotting such as aspirin, Plavix, Coumadin, Aggrenox, heparin, lovenox, etc, but this will be a relative contraindication and decision is made by patient and provider after informed consent.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Kaiser Permanente: lead

Study Sites (1)

KP-LAMC

Los Angeles, California, 90027, United States

Location

Related Publications (16)

• Abate M, Verna S, Di Gregorio P, Salini V, Schiavone C. Sonographic findings during and after Platelet Rich Plasma injections in tendons. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2014 May 8;4(1):29-34. eCollection 2014 Jan.

  PMID: 24932444 BACKGROUND

• Finnoff JT, Fowler SP, Lai JK, Santrach PJ, Willis EA, Sayeed YA, Smith J. Treatment of chronic tendinopathy with ultrasound-guided needle tenotomy and platelet-rich plasma injection. PM R. 2011 Oct;3(10):900-11. doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2011.05.015. Epub 2011 Aug 26.

  PMID: 21872551 BACKGROUND

• Mishra A, Pavelko T. Treatment of chronic elbow tendinosis with buffered platelet-rich plasma. Am J Sports Med. 2006 Nov;34(11):1774-8. doi: 10.1177/0363546506288850. Epub 2006 May 30.

  PMID: 16735582 BACKGROUND

• Chiavaras MM, Jacobson JA. Ultrasound-guided tendon fenestration. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2013 Feb;17(1):85-90. doi: 10.1055/s-0033-1333942. Epub 2013 Mar 13.

  PMID: 23487340 BACKGROUND

• Hamilton BH, Best TM. Platelet-enriched plasma and muscle strain injuries: challenges imposed by the burden of proof. Clin J Sport Med. 2011 Jan;21(1):31-6. doi: 10.1097/JSM.0b013e318205a658.

  PMID: 21200168 BACKGROUND

• Boyer MI, Hastings H 2nd. Lateral tennis elbow: "Is there any science out there?". J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 1999 Sep-Oct;8(5):481-91. doi: 10.1016/s1058-2746(99)90081-2.

  PMID: 10543604 BACKGROUND

• Paoloni J, De Vos RJ, Hamilton B, Murrell GA, Orchard J. Platelet-rich plasma treatment for ligament and tendon injuries. Clin J Sport Med. 2011 Jan;21(1):37-45. doi: 10.1097/JSM.0b013e31820758c7.

  PMID: 21200169 BACKGROUND

• Balasubramaniam U, Dissanayake R, Annabell L. Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma injections in pain associated with chronic tendinopathy: A systematic review. Phys Sportsmed. 2015 Jul;43(3):253-61. doi: 10.1080/00913847.2015.1005544. Epub 2015 Jan 20.

  PMID: 25599747 BACKGROUND

• Foster TE, Puskas BL, Mandelbaum BR, Gerhardt MB, Rodeo SA. Platelet-rich plasma: from basic science to clinical applications. Am J Sports Med. 2009 Nov;37(11):2259-72. doi: 10.1177/0363546509349921.

  PMID: 19875361 BACKGROUND

• Housner JA, Jacobson JA, Misko R. Sonographically guided percutaneous needle tenotomy for the treatment of chronic tendinosis. J Ultrasound Med. 2009 Sep;28(9):1187-92. doi: 10.7863/jum.2009.28.9.1187.

  PMID: 19710216 BACKGROUND

• McShane JM, Shah VN, Nazarian LN. Sonographically guided percutaneous needle tenotomy for treatment of common extensor tendinosis in the elbow: is a corticosteroid necessary? J Ultrasound Med. 2008 Aug;27(8):1137-44. doi: 10.7863/jum.2008.27.8.1137.

  PMID: 18645071 BACKGROUND

• Mautner K, Colberg RE, Malanga G, Borg-Stein JP, Harmon KG, Dharamsi AS, Chu S, Homer P. Outcomes after ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma injections for chronic tendinopathy: a multicenter, retrospective review. PM R. 2013 Mar;5(3):169-75. doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2012.12.010. Epub 2013 Feb 9.

  PMID: 23399297 BACKGROUND

• Mautner K, Kneer L. Treatment of tendinopathies with platelet-rich plasma. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2014 Nov;25(4):865-80. doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2014.06.008. Epub 2014 Aug 30.

  PMID: 25442163 BACKGROUND

• Sanchez M, Anitua E, Orive G, Mujika I, Andia I. Platelet-rich therapies in the treatment of orthopaedic sport injuries. Sports Med. 2009;39(5):345-54. doi: 10.2165/00007256-200939050-00002.

  PMID: 19402740 BACKGROUND

• Sims SE, Miller K, Elfar JC, Hammert WC. Non-surgical treatment of lateral epicondylitis: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Hand (N Y). 2014 Dec;9(4):419-46. doi: 10.1007/s11552-014-9642-x.

  PMID: 25414603 BACKGROUND

• Karjalainen TV, Silagy M, O'Bryan E, Johnston RV, Cyril S, Buchbinder R. Autologous blood and platelet-rich plasma injection therapy for lateral elbow pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Sep 30;9(9):CD010951. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010951.pub2.

  PMID: 34590307 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Tennis Elbow; Tendinopathy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Elbow Tendinopathy; Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Elbow Injuries; Arm Injuries; Wounds and Injuries; Tendon Injuries

Study Officials

• Marissa S Vasquez, MD

  Kaiser Permanente

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Physician

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 30, 2017
• First Posted: April 20, 2018
• Study Start: July 1, 2016
• Primary Completion: December 31, 2019
• Study Completion: December 31, 2019
• Last Updated: March 13, 2019

Record last verified: 2019-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)