Comparison of Analgesic Effect of Perineural Dextrose Injection and Low Level Laser Therapy for Osteoarthritis Knee Pain

Abstract
Background: Regenerative injection therapy, perineural subcutaneous injection (PSI) of dextrose in low concentration (5%) (D5W) to the subcutaneous nerves and low level laser therapy (LLLT) are analgesic to nerve pain so muscles can restore their normal function. They could be an alternative to conventional symptomatic management of chronic muscu-loskeletal conditions.
Aim of Study: To compare the benefit of PSI with D5W and LLLT on pain modulation in patients suffering from chronic knee osteoarthritis (OA).
Material and Methods: 100 patients aged 40-70 years, either gender with mild to moderate osteoarthritis of knee were studied. They were equally divided into two groups. Group (I) received dextrose injection 5% in sterile water (D5W) in determined points and group (II) received LLLT. Pain intensity was determined by using visual analogue scale (VAS) and Knee condition was evaluated on the basis of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC).The pretreatment and post-treatment out-comes were compared between two groups.
Results: At the end of the treatment, all patients reported improvement in all parameters compared with pretreatment scores. The PSI group injected with D5W showed a significant reduction in pain scale and improved WOMAC scores after end of the treatment compared to LLLT group.
Conclusion: PSI Injection or LLLT could significantly decrease pain in patients with mild to moderate knee osteoar-thritis and improve their functional status. PSI was more effective to control pain in our patients.