Botulinum toxin A injection for chronic tennis elbow — A potential new mode of treatment

AbstractChronic tennis elbow is not a serious disease but patients may suffer greatly. First studies with injection of Botulinum toxin A (Btx A) have shown promising results.In 18 patients a single dose of Btx A was injected into the origin of the forearm extensors. The site of injection was determined by local tenderness and pain provocation on finger and wrist extension. A significant clinical improvement was seen at two weeks following injection. The effect was noted up to the last follow-up at 14 weeks. Pain, as self-assessed on a visual analogue scale, was also significantly reduced. A significant decrease of muscle strength was only seen for the third finger two weeks after injection. It slowly returned to normal thereafter.A single injection of Btx A seems to be a promising therapy in chronic tennis elbow. It can be carried out in an outpatient setting, and allows the patients to continue working.