4 Clinical Trials for Tennis Elbow
The purpose of this clinical research study is to examine whether embolization treatment of an elbow artery is a safe and effective way to treat elbow pain, specifically pain from tennis elbow. Embozene is a medical device made by Varian marketed in the United States for the treatment of hypervascular tumors and arteriovenous malformations. It consists of thousands of microscopic spheres that are injected into the artery to block the flow of blood to a specific region. One of the causes of pain in the setting of tennis elbow is increased blood flow going to the specific area of pain. In this study, we will investigate an experimental procedure to decrease the blood flow (embolize) to the specific region of the elbow that is causing the pain. This will be done by infusing Embozene particles into the specific blood vessel supplying the area of pain in the elbow. This is an investigational study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of elbow artery embolization (EAE) for the treatment of symptomatic lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow).
Lateral epicondylitis (LE), often referred to as "tennis elbow" is a common and debilitating overuse injury affecting 1-3% of adults annually. LE is most often defined as a syndrome of pain near the area of the lateral epicondyle of the elbow commonly effecting the origin of the extensor carpi radialis brevis with associated weakness; it most commonly effects the dominant arm. The best treatment for LE is unknown and research to support current treatment methods are insufficient. A common limitation in functional recovery experienced by this population is pain at the lateral aspect of the elbow. As such, innovative therapeutic interventions directed at quickly reducing pain may address this unmet need and allow for improved outcomes, as well as earlier return to function.
The investigators are testing the efficacy of a new, FDA-approved bioinductive patch in lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) patients. A bioinductive patch is an implant that may foster tendon regrowth and healing following surgery. Patients will be randomize into one of two groups: control and investigational. Patients in the "control group" will receive the normal surgery for patients who do not respond to physical therapy, lifestyle changes, and anti-inflammatory treatment. Patients in the "experimental group" will receive the same surgical treatment, with the addition of the bioinductive patch. This patch will be implanted during surgery. Then, using a combination of ultrasound studies and other measures, the investigators will assess how well the patch works compared to surgery alone.
The study will address the gaps in the pain experience measurement in those with lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET) by building on the current body of literature, as well as applying modern pain science measures. The comprehensive measurement of various biomedical, psychological, and psychosocial constructs will provide pain profiles that will allow for the subclassification of LET to better inform loading prescriptions based on the systemic effects from LET.