How effective and safe are incobotulinumtoxinA injections in adult patients with lateral epicondylitis refractory to other treatments? In this experimental study, ultrasound-guided incobotulinumtoxinA 10⁻30 U/muscle was injected into extensor carpi ulnaris, extensor digiti minimi, extensor digitorum longus and extensor carpi radialis brevis muscles. Pain (visual analogue scale [VAS], 0 to 10 [no pain to severe pain]) and upper-limb functionality (QuickDASH scale, 0 to 100 [best to worst]), assessed at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months post-treatment, were analysed using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey post-hoc tests. Secondary analyses stratifying patient population by sex and baseline VAS were performed. Adverse events were reported. Twenty-four patients (mean [standard deviation] age 46.8 years) were included. Compared with baseline, mean VAS and QuickDASH scores improved at all follow-ups (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively; repeated-measures ANOVA). Secondary analyses revealed significant differences between baseline and all follow-ups in the group with baseline VAS ≥ 6 and in males and females (all p < 0.05, Tukey post-hoc test). No adverse events, except for the expected third finger weakness, were reported. In conclusion, ultrasound-guided incobotulinumtoxinA injections may be an effective treatment for lateral epicondylitis in the appropriate patient population.
Keywords: botulinum toxin A; incobotulinumtoxinA; lateral epicondylitis; pain; rehabilitation; tennis elbow.