Background

Percutaneous electrolysis (PE) is a minimally invasive physiotherapeutic method in which direct current electrical stimulation is applied to the injured tendon through an acupuncture needle inserted under ultrasound guidance.

Aims

The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of percutaneous electrolysis in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis

Material and methods

Article searches were performed in four databases: Embase, PubMed, EBSCOhost, and OVID. The methodological quality of randomized controlled trials was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. The Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool was applied to evaluate the risk of bias.

Results

Two articles met the inclusion criteria. The methodological quality of both randomized trials was rated as high. In both included studies, the risk of bias was assessed as moderate

Conclusions

Percutaneous electrolysis is a modern, minimally invasive therapy for lateral epicondylitis. Literature data suggest that its application leads to significant pain reduction, improved range of motion, and enhanced patient function. However, based on the available studies, definitive conclusions regarding the effectiveness of percutaneous electrolysis in treating lateral epicondylitis cannot be drawn. The number of studies remains limited, and their quality raises some concerns about the risk of bias.