A retrospective audit of patients with osteo-arthritic knees treated with prolotherapy in a general practice

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the effects of dextrose prolotherapy on knee osteoarthritis.

Patients and methods: A retrospective audit of treated series using a postal questionnaire and general practitioner (GP) records was conducted in UK National Health Service (NHS) general practice. Participants included 48 men and women with self-reported knee pain, treated by prolotherapy 3–43 months previously. Outcome measures were retrospective numerical visual analogue scale (VAS) scores pre- and post-treatment and self-reported duration of pain relief, reduction in analgesia requirement, severity of osteoarthritis on X-ray and any subsequent knee replacement referral.

Results: There were 42 (85%) respondents to the postal questionnaire. Median follow-up was 30 months. Of respondents, 83% reported benefit, 75% for more than 3 months, and 26% for more than 1 year. Mean reduction of VAS score for the population was 3.5 (P < 0.001), suggestive of a significant clinical effect. There was no statistical difference in response of any subgroup examined.

Conclusions: These results suggest a genuine effect, but the study is obviously inconclusive. However, it provides a good case for conducting a formal randomised controlled trial against usual care in knee osteoarthritis in an NHS setting.

Keywords:

• KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS
• PROLOTHERAPY
• AUDIT