EFFICACY OF ANALGESICS AND PHYSIOTHERAPY VERSUS LOCAL STEROID INJECTIONS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF TENNIS ELBOW: A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF 100 PATIENTS

This prospective observational study, conducted from November 2022 to January 2025 at Dr. Pinnamaneni Siddhardha Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation, Gannavaram, investigates ththerapeutic efficacy of a dual modality approach conservative management using analgesics and physiotherapy (A&P) compared with local steroid injections (LSI) in patients diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis. One hundred patients, exhibiting considerable heterogeneity in age,sex, occupational exposure, and baseline functional status, were allocated into two treatment arms. Functional outcomes were meticulously assessed using the Patient Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) score and supplementary visual analog scales (VAS) at baseline and at serial intervals over a 12 month follow-up period. Our findings reveal that while LSI confers a pronounced early analgesic effect, the long-term functional recuperation converges between the two treatment groups. These results are critically analysed alongside recent post-2020 literature, delineating potential clinical implications, future research directives, and inherent study limitations.