Treatment of lateral epicondylitis using skin-derived tenocyte-like cells

To culture collagen-producing cells derived from skin fibroblasts and o evaluate prospectively the safety and potential use of this cell preparation for treatment of refractory lateral epicondylitis in a pilot study.

Prospective clinical pilot study.

Institution-based clinical research.

A total of 12 patients (5 men and 7 women; mean age 39.1 years) with clinical diagnosis of refractory lateral epicondylitis.

Laboratory-prepared collagen-producing cells derived from dermal fibroblasts were injected into the sites of intrasubstance tears and fibrillar discontinuity of the common extensor origin under ultrasonography guidance.

The outcome assessment was performed over 6 months. The Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) scale was used to assess pain severity and functional disability. Tendon healing response was measured using four criteria on ultrasonography: tendon thickness, hypoechogenicity, intrasubstance tears and neovascularity.

Cell cultures rich in collagen-producing cells was successfully prepared. After injection, the median PRTEE score decreased from 78 before the procedure to 47 at 6 weeks, 35 at 3 months and 12 at 6 months after the procedure (p<0.05). The healing response on ultrasonography showed median decrease in: (1) number of tears, from 5 to 2; (2) number of new vessels, from 3 to 1; and (3) tendon thickness, from 4.35 to 4.2 (p<0.05). Of the 12 patients, 11 had a satisfactory outcome, and only one patient proceeded to surgery after failure of treatment at the end of 3 months.

Skin-derived tenocyte-like cells can be cultured in the laboratory to yield a rich preparation of collagen-producing cells. Our pilot study suggests that these collagen-producing cells can be injected safely into patients and may have therapeutic value in patients with refractory lateral epicondylitis.