Abstract

LEECH THERAPY IN TENNIS ELBOW: A CASE STUDY

Sonia Shekhawat*, Devesh Shukla, Pankaj Kumar Sharma and Jeeshan Khan

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Abstract

Lateral epicondylitis, also known as tennis elbow, is a painful condition involving the soft tissue over the lateral aspect of the elbow. The pain originates at or near the site of attachment of the common extensors to the lateral epicondyle and may radiate into the forearm and dorsum of the wrist. The pain usually disappears after work or recreational activities involving repeated motions of wrist extension and supination against resistance. Most people with this disorder injure themselves in activities other than tennis, such as pulling weeds, carrying suitcase or briefcase, or using screwdriver. The injury in tennis usually occurs when hitting a backhand with the elbow flexed. Shaking hands and opening doors can reproduce the pain. Striking the lateral elbow against a solid object may also induce pain. The treatment is usually rest, NSAIDS, icing, friction massage, injection of a glucocorticoid and elbow is placed in a sling or splinted at 900 flexion. A forearm band placed 2.5-5.0 cm below the elbow may help to reduce tension on the extensor muscles at their attachment to the lateral epicondyle. But these treatment options give symptomatic relief and recurrence occur. Leech therapy achieves a significant and long-lasting improvement of symptoms than conventional therapies. 3-6 leeches are placed directly over the inflamed lateral epicondyle and surrounding tissues. The efficacy of leech therapy in purely lateral and medial epicondylitis (Golfer‟s elbow) is unclear. Leech therapy is a simple yet effective local treatment for painful tendonitis, and patients with these complaints are commonly seen in leeching practice. There are no data and/or clear expert opinions on the efficacy of leech therapy in the treatment of tenosynovitis at other sites.

Keywords: Tennis elbow, Leech.