AN INSTITUTIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH TOPICAL GLYCERYL TRINITRATE FOR TENNIS ELBOW: A RANDOMIZED TRIAL.

Dinesh  Kumar; Ankit  Mittal; Pradeep Kumar  Gupta; Rajeev  Kumar; Yogesh  Kumar; Harish  Kumar

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v5i9.1319

Authors

Dinesh Kumar Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Etawah, India
Ankit Mittal Additional Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Etawah, India
Pradeep Kumar Gupta Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Etawah, India
Rajeev Kumar Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Etawah, India
Yogesh Kumar Senior Resident, Department of Orthopaedics, S.K.S. Medical College, Mathura, India
Harish Kumar Additional Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Etawah, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v5i9.1319

Keywords:

topical glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), lateral epicondylitis (LE), visual analogue scale (VAS)

Abstract

Objective

This study is conducted to analyze the efficacy of glyceryl trinitrate in the treatment of tennis elbow.

Method

90 participants were divided into treatment groups and placebo groups. The placebo group received placebo patches, and the treatment group was given glyceryl trinitrate patches. The participants of the study were selected if the pain, as well as the tenderness, was evident with pain-stimulating maneuvers. The pain was evaluated using a visual analog scale before the treatment and after the treatment. A criterion was specified to determine the outcome of the study.

Results

A substantial difference in the VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) score of pain was observed in the 3rd week of follow-up between the two groups. In the treatment group, the VAS score reduced significantly from 9.2 to 5.28 (p < 0.00001), indicating a marked improvement in symptoms. In contrast, the control group showed a minimal reduction in the VAS score from 9.13 to 8.48 (p = 0.18), with no significant change in pain levels. The statistical analysis demonstrated that the difference in pain reduction between the treatment and control groups was highly significant.

Conclusion

The topical application of GTN patches is effective in reducing pain and tenderness associated with lateral epicondylitis.

Recommendation

Based on the findings of this study, the topical application of glyceryl trinitrate is recommended as a first-line treatment for tennis elbow, given its significant effect in improving pain and elbow function.