Injection of Botulinum Toxin for Treatment of Chronic Lateral Epicondylitis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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This systematic review/meta-analyis utilized 10 studies (4 RCTs and 6 studies of varying quality) assessing the short term efficacy of botulinum toxin A injections into the forearm extensor muscles of patients with lateral epicondylitis. Meta-analysis utilizing the 4 included RCTs indicated that VAS pain at 4 weeks and 3 months post-intervention favoured botulinum toxin over saline solution. The results form a qualitative analysis of the 6 others trials also favoured botulinum toxin, but was limited by potential bias. The present literature appears to demonstrate that botulinum toxin A injection for chronic treatment-resistant tennis elbow has positive short term benefits.