Clinical results after ultrasound-guided intratissue percutaneous electrolysis (EPIA®) and eccentric exercise in the treatment of patellar tendinopathy

To investigate the outcome of ultrasound (US)-guided intratissue percutaneous electrolysis (EPIA (R)) and eccentric exercise in the treatment of patellar tendinopathy during a long-term follow-up. Forty patients with patellar tendinopathy were prospectively evaluated over a 10-year follow-up period. Pain and function were evaluated before treatment, at 3 months and at 2, 5 and 10 years using the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Patella (VISA-P) score, the Tegner score and Blazina's classification. According to VISA-P score at baseline, patients were also dichotomized into Group 1 (< 50 points) and Group 2 (a parts per thousand yen50 points). There were 21 patients in Group 1 and 19 in Group 2. Patient satisfaction was measured according to the Roles and Maudsley score. The VISA-P score improved globally by 41.2 points (p < 0.01) after a mean 4.1 procedures. In Group 1, VISA-P score improved from 33.1 +/- A 13 to 78.9 +/- A 14.4 at 3-month and to 88.8 +/- A 10.1 at 10-year follow-up (p < 0.001). In Group 2, VISA-P score improved from 69.3 +/- A 10.5 to 84.9 +/- A 9 at 3-month and to 96.0 +/- A 4.3 at 10-year follow-up (p < 0.001). After 10 years, 91.2 % of the patients had a VISA-P score > 80 points. The same level (80 % of patients) or the Tegner score at no more than one level lower (20 % of patients) was restored, and 97.5 % of the patients were satisfied with the procedure. Treatment with the US-guided EPIA (R) technique and eccentric exercises in patellar tendinopathy resulted in a great improvement in knee function and a rapid return to the previous level of activity after few sessions. The procedure has proved to be safe with no recurrences on a long-term basis.