Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis is a common condition that causes pain and inflammation in the elbow. Despite its prevalence, current treatments for tennis elbow are not always effective and can have limitations. Therefore, researchers are actively working to develop more effective treatments for this condition.
One area of research is focused on developing new therapies that target the underlying cause of tennis elbow, which is typically degeneration and inflammation of the tendons that attach to the lateral epicondyle of the elbow. Stem cell therapy is a promising approach for treating tennis elbow. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the ability to develop into different types of cells, such as muscle, bone, or tendon cells. This makes them a valuable resource for regenerating damaged tissue.
In the case of tennis elbow, stem cells can be used to repair and regenerate the damaged tendons that cause pain and inflammation. When stem cells are introduced into the affected area, they can differentiate into new tendon cells, which can help to rebuild the damaged tissue and improve the function of the elbow.
Additionally, stem cells can also help to reduce inflammation and promote healing by releasing growth factors and other signaling molecules that support tissue repair. This can lead to a reduction in pain, improved function, and an overall faster recovery for patients with tennis elbow.
It’s worth mentioning that stem cell therapy is still considered an experimental treatment for tennis elbow, and more research is needed to confirm its safety and effectiveness. However, early studies and pilot trials have shown promise and encourage further exploration. A study, Treatment of lateral epicondylitis using skin-derived tenocyte-like cells, looked into the potential of regenerative medicine techniques for tennis elbow.
Results of the Study
Researchers evaluated the use of a type of cell called “tenocyte-like cells” that come from the skin as a potential treatment option for the condition. The hypothesis was that these cells can be grown in a lab and used to treat the condition. The goal was also to evaluate the safety and potential of this treatment. 12 patients were treated during the course of the study.
During the procedure, the researchers injected about 2 ml of 1,000,000 tenocyte-like cells, which are known to produce collagen, into the injured area of the elbow. To measure the results, researchers used a scale called the Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) and performed ultrasound (US) imaging on the elbow. Patients were asked to rate their pain and functional disability on the PRTEE scale before and after the treatment at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months.
The results were encouraging; as 91.6% of patients expressed satisfaction with both the procedure and the outcome, and 83.3% stated they would be ready to undergo the procedure again if needed. No infection, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, elbow flexion contracture or other untoward effects occurred, except for one patient who failed to improve satisfactorily at 3 months and eventually underwent surgery for tennis elbow.
The median PRTEE score before the injection was 78, and it decreased to 47 at 6 weeks, 35 at 3 months, and 12 at the end of 6 months. There was a significant difference in the PRTEE scores between the pre-treatment values and the values at each of the subsequent times. On the US examination at 3 and 6 months, there was a tendency for the tendon appearance to change towards normal with a decrease in tendon size, restoration of the fibrillar pattern, and near-total resolution of the intrasubstance tears. The presence of dead veins was reduced, but still identifiable at the end of 6 months.
This study has some limitations. It was a pilot study, which means it only included a small group of 12 patients, to test if the treatment is safe and if it has the potential to be effective. This study suggests that collagen-producing cells derived from skin can be isolated and cultured into tenocyte-like cells in the laboratory under standard conditions. These cells can be implanted safely into the tendons of patients with refractory tennis elbow. But more research is needed, using a control group, a larger patient population, and histopathological correlation, to confirm the treatment’s effectiveness.
The study found that stem cells derived from skin can be isolated and cultured into tenocyte-like cells in the laboratory under standard conditions. These cell preparations can be implanted safely into the tendons of a group of patients with refractory tennis elbow.
The study also suggests that stem cell therapy may be able to repair and regenerate damaged tissue in the tendons, which can help to reduce pain and inflammation, and improve the function of the elbow. The study also found no significant adverse events reported other than by one patient who had continued intense pain at 3 weeks and eventually required surgery.
