Prolotherapy for Thumb and Finger
J Altern Complement Med. 2000 Aug;6(4):311-20.Randomized, prospective, placebo-controlled double-blind study
of dextrose prolotherapy for osteoarthritic thumb and finger (DIP, PIP, and trapeziometacarpal) joints: evidence
of clinical efficacy. Reeves KD, Hassanein K., Meadowbrook Rehabilitation Hospital, Gardner, Kansas, USA.
dreeves1@kc.rr.com.
Abstract
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.