Efficacy of dextrose prolotherapy in elite male kicking-sport athletes with chronic groin pain.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy of simple dextrose prolotherapy in elite kicking-sport athletes with chronic groin pain from osteitis pubis and/or adductor tendinopathy.


METHODS
Consecutive case series.


METHODS
Orthopedic and trauma institute in Argentina.


METHODS
Twenty-two rugby and 2 soccer players with chronic groin pain that prevented full sports participation and who were nonresponsive both to therapy and to a graded reintroduction into sports activity.


METHODS
Monthly injection of 12.5% dextrose and 0.5% lidocaine into the thigh adductor origins, suprapubic abdominal insertions, and symphysis pubis, depending on palpation tenderness. Injections were given until complete resolution of pain or lack of improvement for 2 consecutive treatments.


METHODS
Visual analog scale (VAS) for pain with sports and the Nirschl Pain Phase Scale (NPPS), a measure of functional impairment from pain.


RESULTS
The final data collection point was 6 to 32 months after treatment (mean, 17 mo). A mean of 2.8 treatments were given. The mean reduction in pain during sports, as measured by the VAS, improved from 6.3+/-1.4 to 1.0+/-2.4 ( P <.001), and the mean reduction in NPPS score improved from 5.3+/-0.7 to 0.8+/-1.9 ( P <.001). Twenty of 24 patients had no pain and 22 of 24 were unrestricted with sports at final data collection.


CONCLUSIONS
Dextrose prolotherapy showed marked efficacy for chronic groin pain in this group of elite rugby and soccer athletes.
Topol
Gastón Andrés
GA
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, Jaime Slullitel Rosario Orthopedic and Trauma Institute, Argentina.
Reeves
K Dean
KD
Hassanein
Khatab Mohammed
KM
D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006133:Growth Substances; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D010000:Osteitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011631:Pubic Symphysis; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries
D006133:Growth Substances; D005947:Glucose