Efficacy and Safety of Autologous Blood Products Compared With Corticosteroid Injections in the Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

10 randomized controlled trials were included in this meta-analysis investigating the comparative efficacy of autologous blood injections and corticosteroid injections in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis. Both autologous whole blood injections and platelet-rich plasma injections were considered. The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated that despite significantly lower pain following corticosteroid injection at a 2-4 week follow-up, autologous blood product injections led to significantly lower pain from 6-24 weeks and beyond 24 weeks of follow-up. Function and disability outcomes also favoured the autologous blood product injections at mid-term follow-up (6-24 weeks). Beyond 24 weeks there were no differences between the groups in function scores, disability of the arm, shoulder, and hand score, and grip strength.