|
PROLOTHERAPY RESEARCH
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
Reeves KD, Hassanein K. Randomized, prospective,
placebo-controlled double-blind study of dextrose prolotherapy for
osteoarthritic thumb and finger (DIP, PIP, and trapeziometacarpal)
joints: evidence of clinical efficacy. J Altern Complement Med. 2000
Aug;6(4):311-20.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the
clinical benefit of dextrose prolotherapy (injection of growth factors
or growth factor stimulators) in osteoarthritic finger joints. DESIGN:
Prospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
SETTINGS/LOCATION: Outpatient physical medicine clinic.
SUBJECTS: Six months of pain history was required in each
joint studied as well as one of the following: grade 2 or 3 osteophyte,
grade 2 or 3 joint narrowing, or grade 1 osteophyte plus grade 1 joint
narrowing. Distal interphalangeal (DIP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP),
and trapeziometacarpal (thumb CMC) joints were eligible. Thirteen
patients (with seventy-four symptomatic osteoarthitic joints) received
active treatment, and fourteen patients (with seventy-six symptomatic
osteoarthritic joints) served as controls.
INTERVENTION: One half milliliter (0.5 mL) of either 10%
dextrose and 0.075% xylocaine in bacteriostatic water (active solution)
or 0.075% xylocaine in bacteriostatic water (control solution) was
injected on medial and lateral aspects of each affected joint. This was
done at 0, 2, and 4 months with assessment at 6 months after first
injection.
OUTCOME MEASURES: One-hundred millimeter (100 mm) Visual
Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain at rest, pain with joint movement and pain
with grip, and goniometrically-measured joint flexion.
RESULTS: Pain at rest and with grip improved more in the
dextrose group but not significantly. Improvement in pain with movement
of fingers improved significantly more in the dextrose group (42% versus
15% with a p value of .027). Flexion range of motion improved more in
the dextrose group (p = .003). Side effects were minimal.
CONCLUSION: Dextrose prolotherapy was clinically effective
and safe in the treatment of pain with joint movement and range
limitation in osteoarthritic finger joints.
You can read this article here
|
