Functional outcome in knee osteoarthritis after dextrose prolotherapy intervention: A severity-based pilot study

Background: Osteoarthritis currently remains a significant health problem due to its high prevalence and morbidity rate. Radiological examination is still used as gold standard determine the severity of knee osteoarthritis by using Kellgren-Lawrence grading. Dextrose prolotherapy has been known be effective in treating pain osteoarthritis, but none compared efficacy between mild moderate-severe osteoarthritis. Objective: This study aims compare effectiveness based on radiological symptomatic osteoarthritis.Methods: In this pre-post study, participants who underwent dextrose injection (25% intra-articular 15% periarticular) for three sessions with four weeks intervals were grouped into (grade 1-2) severe 3-4) groups. Participants’ functional status was measured Western Ontario McMaster Universities’ arthritis index scores at baseline week 12.Results: A total 21 patients (average age 61.42 ± 8.33, BMI 26.81± 3.72) received therapy sessions. Both groups had significantly better Universities than (-22.57± 11.9; p = 0.002 -15.42 15.75; 0.003). All parameters improved (p <0.05) both groups, except stiffness score 0.292; 0.057). There no differences outcome improvements > 0.05; CI 95%: -21.3 – 7.05).Conclusion: Prolotherapy effectively improves outcomes all stages