Efficacy of Intra-Articular Hypertonic Dextrose (Prolotherapy) for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Published in: Annals of family medicine 2020-05, Vol.18 (3), p.235-242
• Main Authors: Sit, Regina Wing Shan, Wu, Ricky Wing Keung, Rabago, David, Reeves, Kenneth Dean, Chan, Dicken Cheong Chun, Yip, Benjamin Hon Kei, Chung, Vincent Chi Ho, Wong, Samuel Yeung Shan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Care and treatment; Cluster Analysis; Dextrose; Female; Glucose; Glucose Solution, Hypertonic - administration & dosage; Humans; Injections, Intra-Articular; Knee pain; Male; Methods; Middle Aged; Original Research; Osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis, Knee - drug therapy; Pain Measurement; Prolotherapy - methods; Single-Blind Method; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1544-1709; 1544-1717
• DOI: 10.1370/afm.2520

To test the efficacy of intra-articular hypertonic dextrose prolotherapy (DPT) vs normal saline (NS) injection for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). A single-center, parallel-group, blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted at a university primary care clinic in Hong Kong. Patients with KOA (n = 76) were randomly allocated (1:1) to DPT or NS groups for injections at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 16. The primary outcome was the Western Ontario McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC; 0-100 points) pain score. The secondary outcomes were the WOMAC composite, function and stiffness scores; objectively assessed physical function test results; visual analogue scale (VAS) for knee pain; and EuroQol-5D score. All outcomes were evaluated at baseline and at 16, 26, and 52 weeks using linear mixed model. Randomization produced similar groups. The WOMAC pain score at 52 weeks showed a difference-in-difference estimate of -10.34 (95% CI, -19.20 to -1.49, = 0.022) points. A similar favorable effect was shown on the difference-in-difference estimate on WOMAC function score of -9.55 (95% CI, -17.72 to -1.39, = 0.022), WOMAC composite score of -9.65 (95% CI, -17.77 to -1.53, = 0.020), VAS pain intensity score of -10.98 (95% CI, -21.36 to -0.61, = 0.038), and EuroQol-5D VAS score of 8.64 (95% CI, 1.36 to 5.92, = 0.020). No adverse events were reported. Intra-articular dextrose prolotherapy injections reduced pain, improved function and quality of life in patients with KOA compared with blinded saline injections. The procedure is straightforward and safe; the adherence and satisfaction were high.