Comparison of Ultrasound-Guided Perimeniscal Steroid and 5% Dextrose Injections in Knee Osteoarthritis

Introduction: The primary goal of treating knee osteoarthritis is to reduce pain and improve the patient's quality of life. Medial meniscal extrusion is a condition that is linked to pain and disability in knee osteoarthritis and can be identified through ultrasound. For patients with medial meniscal extrusion, perimeniscal corticosteroid injection has been shown to be a helpful addition to primary treatment for moderate to severe pain relief. Dextrose prolotherapy has also been found to provide periarticular benefits for knee osteoarthritis. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided perimeniscal corticosteroid and perimeniscal dextrose injections in patients with osteoarthritis, medial knee pain, and medial meniscal extrusion. Method: Patients with medial knee pain and meniscal extrusion were randomly divided into two groups using the double-block randomization method. Group 1 included 15 patients who were administered an ultrasound-guided perimeniscal steroid injection, while Group 2 included 16 patients who were administered an ultrasound-guided perimeniscal dextrose injection. The patients' pain levels were evaluated using the Visual Analog Pain Scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) before and one week, one month, and three months after the injection.

Inclusion Criteria: * Grade 2-4 knee osteoarthritis, * Aged 40 to 79 * Chronic medial knee pain persisting for more than 3 months. * Ultrasound screening found medial meniscal extrusion of more than 3 mm * A Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score of at least 4. Exclusion Criteria: a skin infection at the injection site, a prior history of inflammatory arthropathy, a prior history of knee injection within the last 3 months, knee synovitis pes anserine bursitis scheduled for surgery