Comparison of Intraarticular Injections of Hyaluronic Acid versus Dextrose Applied with Periarticular Prolotherapy in the Treatment of Recreational Athletes with Knee Osteoarthritis
Yusuf Erdem1
, Deniz Gül2, Serkan Akpancar2
1Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Gülhane Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
2Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Tokat State Hospital, Tokat, Turkey
Keywords: Dextrose, hyaluronic acid, injection, knee, osteoarthritis, prolotherapy
Abstract
Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of intraarticular injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) versus dextrose (DX) in combination with periarticular prolotherapy (PrT) in the treatment of recreational athletes with knee osteoarthritis.
Material and Methods: A total of 54 patients who had chronic knee osteoarthritis (OA) were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups as PrT+HA (intraarticular hyaluronic acid combined with periarticular prolotherapy, n=27) and PrT+DX (intraarticular dextrose combined with periarticular prolotherapy, n=27). Clinical efficacy and pain were evaluated via the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) at pre-treatment and one, three and six-month follow-ups.
Results: Intra-group statistical analyses revealed significant improvements in PrT+HA and PrT+DX groups for WOMAC and VAS scores compared with baseline (p<0.001). When the two groups were compared, VAS and WOMAC scores in the first month follow-ups were significantly better in the PrT+DX group (p=0.022 and p=0.03, respectively) while sixth month follow-up scores were significantly better in the PrT+HA group (p<0.001 and p<0.005 respectively).
Conclusions: Both of the intraarticular injections (HA and DX) are efficacious and safe in treating knee osteoarthritis. HA offers advantage of higher treatment success, while DX offers clinical efficacy with less cost.
Cite this article as: Erdem Y, Gul D, Akpancar S. Comparison of intraarticular injections of hyaluronic acid versus dextrose Applied with periarticular prolotherapy in the treatment of recreational athletes with knee osteoarthritis. Turk J Sports Med. 2020;55(1):6-13.
