Hypertonic Dextrose Injections for Osteoarthritis

Among the elderly, an increase in the prevalence of certain diseases, such as osteoarthritis, has been observed. Patients with osteoarthritis not only experience discomfort and pain but also have limited range of motion in the joints, which lowers their quality of life. At present, non-drug, drug, and surgical treatment options are available for patients with osteoarthritis; these approaches mainly focus on relieving symptoms and reducing the impact of joint disability. Initially, non-drug therapies, such as those focusing on changing the habits of patients, are usually administered. If the disease remains uncontrolled following non-drug therapy, drugs are administered and/or surgery is considered. The treatment comprising injecting irritant solutions into joints is known as prolotherapy, which is a non-surgical treatment method. In this method, the most commonly used irritant solution is hypertonic glucose because it can be obtained easily at a low cost. Since prolotherapy is not yet considered a mainstream treatment, herein, we have summarized the outcomes of recent meta-analyses or systematic reviewarticles on the application of hypertonic glucose solution for osteoarthritis treatment and discussed its therapeutic effects and potential risks. For patients who are not suitable for or refuse to receive mainstream treatments, prolotherapy could be a promising treatment choice.