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Hypertonic dextrose injection (prolotherapy) for knee osteoarthritis: Long term outcomes
David Rabago1, Marlon Mundt1, Aleksandra Zgierska1
1Department of Family Medicine University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53715, United States.
Complementary Therapies in Medicine
|June 9, 2015
Summary
Prolotherapy injections safely improved knee osteoarthritis pain and function for 2.5 years. This long-term study shows sustained benefits for knee OA patients unresponsive to other treatments.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a widespread, disabling condition.
- Prolotherapy offers a potential treatment for chronic musculoskeletal pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term efficacy of prolotherapy for knee OA.
- Evaluate effects on knee pain, function, and stiffness over 2.5 years.
Main Methods:
- Open-label, post-clinical trial follow-up study.
- Adults with knee OA received 3-5 monthly prolotherapy sessions.
- Assessed using the Western Ontario McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) at multiple time points up to 2.5 years.
Main Results:
- Participants showed progressive improvement in WOMAC scores.
- A 35.8% improvement in WOMAC scores was observed at 2.5 years.
- No covariates predicted WOMAC score improvement.
Conclusions:
- Prolotherapy demonstrated safe and significant long-term improvement in knee OA symptoms.
- It may be a viable option for patients with refractory knee OA.
- Sustained benefits suggest prolotherapy's potential in managing knee OA.
Keywords:
NCT00085722
