Clinical Research Directory

Arthroscopic or Open Evaluation of Posterolateral Instability Associated With Lateral Epicondylitis

The elbow is a complex joint made up of three bones, three joints, and three ligaments. Repeated microtraumas can lead to ligament injuries and instability, tendon damage, or degenerative processes affecting the bones, cartilage, and bursae. As a result, elbow pain is not uncommon, and diagnosing the underlying problem is not always easy. One reason for this is the complex anatomy packed into a small space. Many disorders produce overlapping symptoms, making them hard to tell apart. In this context, diagnostic confusion isn't unusual. So, posterolateral rotatory instability of the elbow has symptoms similar to those of lateral epicondylitis, the main diagnosis for a painful elbow, but the way it's treated is different. However, a wrong diagnosis can be linked to treatment failure risks that might put the patient in a therapeutic, social, or work/sports dead end. An accurate and early diagnosis could allow for quickly setting up a treatment strategy suited to the condition. The relationship between posterolateral elbow instability and lateral epicondylitis has been little studied in the literature. This project is based on the hypothesis that lateral epicondylitis is often associated with posterolateral instability. Checking the lateral collateral ligament of the elbow during scheduled surgery to treat lateral epicondylitis, either arthroscopically or openly, could help better assess this relationship. The main aim of this study is to figure out the percentage of patients with posterolateral elbow instability, diagnosed either through arthroscopy or open surgery, among those with lateral epicondylitis who are up for surgery.

Treatment of Lateral Epicondylalgia With Shock Waves

Lateral epicondylalgia (LET) is characterized by pain, decreased muscle strength of the wrist extensor muscles, and disability. Among the treatments proposed in the literature, both focal shockwave therapy and radial shockwave therapy have been considered effective in the management of this musculoskeletal disorder. The objective of this study is to compare the safety and effectiveness of these two shockwave applications on the signs and symptoms of subjects with lateral epicondylalgia. In this clinical trial, subjects will be evaluated for elbow pain using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), grip strength using a handheld dynamometer, and degree of disability using the Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation Questionnaire (PRTEE). A six-month follow-up will be performed. Patients will be randomly divided into three groups. The first group will receive radial shock waves (rESWT), the second group will receive focal shock waves (fESWT), and the third group, which will act as a control, will receive a placebo treatment with very low energy parameters according to the literature. Subjects will receive three sessions, one session per week.

Evaluation of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatment in Tendinopathies

This multicenter, prospective, observational study, based on real-world evidence (RWE), aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment across four types of tendinopathies: patellar, Achilles, epicondylar, and plantar fasciosis. Data collection and analysis will be conducted using the BioSmartData® platform, including hematology analyzers for PRP characterization, clinical variables, treatment protocols, and longitudinal assessment of therapeutic response.

Comparison of ESWT and Ultrasound-Guided Ozone Injection in Lateral Epicondylitis

Lateral epicondylitis is a common and often debilitating condition characterized by pain over the lateral aspect of the elbow. Although many patients respond to standard conservative treatments, a subset develops a chronic and treatment-resistant form of the condition. The primary objective of this randomized comparative clinical trial is to evaluate and compare the therapeutic effectiveness of two intervention modalities: Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) and ultrasound-guided ozone injection in patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis. Participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment arms. The first group will receive Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT), while the second group will receive an ultrasound-guided injection of an ozone-oxygen mixture. Both interventions will be administered once weekly for three consecutive weeks according to their respective standard treatment protocols. To determine which treatment yields superior clinical and structural outcomes, participants will be evaluated at three time points: baseline (prior to treatment), immediately after completion of the 3-week treatment protocol, and at a 4-week follow-up. Outcome measures will include pain intensity assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), functional status evaluated with the Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE), hand grip strength measured with a dynamometer, and structural tendon changes (tendon thickness and presence of enthesophytes) assessed by high-resolution ultrasonography.