Mohamad Yasin, DO
Resident Doctor
Montefiore Einstein
east meadow, New York, United States
Shane M A Drakes, MBBS
Sports Medicine Fellowship Director
Montefiore
Bronx, New York, United States
Chronic bilateral triceps tendinopathy managed with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection.
Case Description:
A 52-year-old male weightlifter presented with a fifteen year history of bilateral triceps tendinopathy. The pain was described as a sharp 9/10 discomfort during physical activity, including skull crushers and bench press exercises, and 4/10 achy pain at rest. Upon physical examination, there was an extensor lag of bilateral elbows with localized tenderness over the distal triceps tendon bilaterally. Ultrasonography (US) confirmed tendinopathic and calcific changes along the medial aspect of bilateral distal tendon insertion.
Venipuncture was performed and PRP obtained after processing the blood. The patient was prepped using sterile technique and then a 21-gauge, 1.5-inch needle was inserted into the tendinopathic area of the triceps tendons under US guidance. After negative aspiration, 3 mL of PRP cocktail was injected into each elbow. Upon follow up, the patient reported a significant reduction in symptoms, with complete resolution of pain at rest and during activities at the gym. This case highlights the efficacy of PRP injections in managing triceps tendinopathy and the versatility of the treatment for chronic tendon injuries in individuals with repetitive stress injuries at atypical locations. There is a lack of research on triceps tendon PRP treatment and there is a need for further studies to establish standardized protocols for this application.
Discussions: Triceps tendinopathy is an uncommon condition but may be seen in individuals who engage in repetitive elbow extensions, such as weightlifters and throwing athletes. Although PRP is less commonly used in this area, it remains effective in treating triceps tendinopathy by stimulating growth factors that promote healing.
Conclusions:
