Effect of Dextrose Prolotherapy on Pain Intensity, Disability, and Plantar Fascia Thickness in Unilateral Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Study

Effect of corticosteroids over plantar fascia thickness in plantar fasciitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Corticosteroid injections have been typically used for the management of plantar fasciitis with apparently good clinical outcomes; however, there is no information of the effect of corticosteroids on the thickness of the plantar fascia which is typically altered in this pathology. We aimed determine whether treatment with corticosteroid injections induces plantar fascia thickness changes in plantar fasciitis.

METHODS

MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCT) reporting the use of corticosteroid injection to treat plantar fasciitis to July 2022. Studies must have reported plantar fascia thickness measurement. The risk of bias in all studies was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. Meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model and the generic inverse variance method.

RESULTS

Data from 17 RCT (including 1109 subjects) were collected. The follow-up period ranged from one to six months. Most studies measured the thickness of the plantar fascia at the insertion into the calcaneus using ultrasound. Pooled analysis revealed that corticosteroid injections had no significant effect on plantar fascia thickness (weighted mean differences [WMD], 0.06 mm [95% CI: -0.17, 0.29]; p = 0.61) or pain relief (WMD, 0.12 cm [95% CI: -0.36, 0.61]; p = 0.62) above active controls.

CONCLUSION

Corticosteroid injections do not perform better than other common interventions in terms of a decrease of plantar fascia thickness and pain relief for plantar fasciitis.

Effectiveness of Hypertonic Dextrose Injection (Prolotherapy) in Plantar Fasciopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review the effectiveness of hypertonic dextrose prolotherapy (DPT) in plantar fasciopathy (PF) compared with other non-surgical treatments.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Global Health, Ovid Nursing Database, Dimensions, and WHO ICTRP were searched from inception to April 30th, 2022.

STUDY SELECTION

Two independent reviewers selected randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effectiveness of DPT in PF compared with non-surgical treatments. Outcomes included pain intensity, foot and ankle function, and plantar fascia thickness.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two independent reviewers conducted data extraction. Risk of bias (RoB) assessment was conducted using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool, and certainty of evidence was assessed with Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE).

DATA SYNTHESIS

Eight RCTs (n=469) met the inclusion criteria. Pooled results favored the use of DPT versus normal saline (NS) injections in reducing pain (weighted mean difference [WMD] -41.72; 95% confidence interval [CI] -62.36 to -21.08; P<.01; low certainty evidence) and improving function [WMD -39.04; 95% CI -55.24 to -22.85; P<.01; low certainty evidence] in the medium term. Pooled results also showed corticosteroid (CS) injections was superior to DPT in reducing pain in the short term [standardized mean difference 0.77; 95% CI 0.40 to 1.14; P<.01; moderate certainty evidence]. Overall RoB varied from "some concerns" to "high". The overall certainty of evidence presented ranges from very low to moderate based on the assessment with the GRADE approach.

CONCLUSION

Low certainty evidence demonstrated that DPT was superior to NS injections in reducing pain and improving function in the medium term, but moderate certainty evidence showed that it was inferior to CS in reducing pain in the short term. Further high-quality RCTs with standard protocol, longer-term follow-up, and adequate sample size are needed to confirm its role in clinical practice.

Plantar Fasciitis: An Updated Review

Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a common musculoskeletal disease. Histologic findings of patients with PF showed mainly chronic degenerative processes rather than inflammation. In addition to mechanical factors, such as repetitive stress and reduced ankle dorsiflexion, PF is also linked to rheumatologic diseases and genetic factors. Ultrasound is becoming a standard imaging technique for assessing PF. Major sonographic findings included increased plantar fascia thickness and hypoechoic plantar fascia. In addition to traditional B-mode ultrasound, sonoelastography can also be utilized to diagnose PF. Ultrasound can also be used to guide therapeutic interventions. Over 80% of patients with PF improved under nonsurgical treatment. Treatment options for PF include physical therapy, modalities (laser, therapeutic ultrasound), extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), injections, transcatheter arterial embolization, and surgery. For injections, corticosteroid was mostly used in the past but has been replaced gradually by other techniques such as platelet-rich plasma or dextrose prolotherapy. There is also more and more evidence about ESWT in treating PF. Surgery serves as an option for recalcitrant PF cases, and endoscopic fasciotomy seemed to have good outcomes. Ultrasound plays an important role in diagnosing of PF and evaluating the treatment effect, and the use of sonoelastography in addition to traditional B-mode ultrasound may help in the early detection of PF and assessment of the treatment effect.

An assessment of plantar fascia with ultrasound findings in patients with plantar fasciitis: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Plantar fasciitis (PFS) is described by an intense pain over medial tubercle of calcaneus, increased with the first step after waking up, after rest and during weightbearing activity. It is the most common cause of plantar heel pain in adults with the prevalence estimated 10% of the general population. Ultrasound imaging is commonly being used to measure the PF thickness, evaluate the efficacy of different treatments and a guide therapeutic technique in patients with PFS. The objective of this study was to systematically review the studies that were previously published to evaluate the role of ultrasound in the assessment of PF in patients with PFS.

METHODS

A systematic search was carried out over the last 5 years from 2017 to 2022 on basis the following electronic databases: Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Springer and PubMed. The keywords that used in the searching were: ultrasound, sonography, ultrasonography, plantar fasciitis, imaging of plantar fascia, physiotherapy of plantar fasciitis, interventional treatment of plantar fasciitis, randomized controlled trial of plantar fasciitis and interventional ultrasound. The review focused on the assessment of PF in patients with PFS underwent different interventions using B-mode, shear wave elastography (SWE) and color Doppler ultrasound.

RESULTS

During the search process, 1661 were recorded using the proper keywords from 2017 to 2022 in which 666 original articles were found after removing the review and duplicated articles. Of these, thirty articles met the inclusion criteria and included in this review. The articles have assessed the PF in patients with PFS under different conditions using different ultrasound modes. Twenty-six articles evaluated the effectiveness of different treatment on PF in patients with PFS using different ultrasound modes. In 8 of 26 articles, the ultrasound was used as both an assessment tool of PF and guide therapeutic technique in patients with PFS. In 18 articles, the ultrasound was used as only assessment tool to identify the PF thickness and its observation changes in patients with PFS. Four articles compared the PF thickness and its intrafascial changes between patients with PFS and healthy subjects.

CONCLUSION

The ultrasound can be a reliable tool in assessment the effect of different interventions on PF by evaluating its thickness, echogenicity and stiffness changes in patients with PFS. There were different methods and treatments were used among the studies.

Effectiveness of dextrose prolotherapy for the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVE

To systematically investigate the efficacy and safety of dextrose prolotherapy for treating chronic plantar fasciitis.

LITERATURE SURVEY

EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar (from inception to December 9, 2021).

METHODOLOGY

Comprehensive review of randomized controlled trials investigating dextrose prolotherapy for chronic plantar fasciitis was done. Two investigators independently screened the titles, abstracts, and full texts and extracted data from eligible studies. The changes in visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, foot function index (FFI), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and plantar fascia thickness were analyzed. Reports of complications of the procedure were collected.

SYNTHESIS

Eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in the meta-analysis, analyzing 444 patients in total. The subgroup analysis showed that at short-term follow-up (<6 months) dextrose prolotherapy was more effective in reducing VAS pain score compared to the non-active treatment control group including exercise and normal saline solution (NSS) injection. However, there was no difference in the change of VAS pain score between dextrose prolotherapy and active treatment control group, which included extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), steroid injection, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection. Dextrose prolotherapy was more effective in reducing FFI, increasing AOFAS score, and reducing plantar fascia thickness at short-term (<6 months) follow-up compared to other comparators. For long-term (≥6 months) follow-up, there was no significant difference in the change in VAS pain score and FFI between the dextrose prolotherapy group and other comparators. No serious complication was reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Dextrose prolotherapy is an effective treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis to reduce pain, improve foot functional score, and decrease plantar fascia thickness at short-term follow-up. Further studies in larger populations are needed to identify the optimal treatment regimen including dextrose concentration, volume, injection site, injection technique, and the number of injections required. The long-term effects of these treatments also require further examination.

The effect of dextrose prolotherapy versus placebo/other non-surgical treatments on pain in chronic plantar fasciitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials

BACKGROUND

Prolotherapy is the injection of a small volume of sclerosing or irritant solutions into an injured tissue. We aimed to investigate the effect of dextrose prolotherapy (DPT) versus placebo/other non-surgical treatments on pain in chronic plantar fasciitis.

METHODS

We searched seven electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, Scopus, ProQuest, CENTRAL, PEDro) from inception to December 31, 2021 with no language restriction for publications comparing the effect of DPT with placebo/other non-surgical treatments in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis. Our primary outcome was pain and the secondary outcomes were foot function and plantar fascia thickness. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool.

RESULTS

Overall, eight studies with a total of 449 patients were included in the meta-analysis. All the included studies reported short-term pain. A large effect size (dppc2 = -0.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.84 to -0.10) was observed favoring the use of DPT to reduce pain in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis in the short-term. The results for foot function improvement (dppc2 = -1.28, 95% CI -2.49 to -0.07) and plantar fascia thickness reduction (dppc2 = -1.02, 95% CI -1.99 to -0.05) in the short-term were also in favor of DPT.

CONCLUSIONS

Since almost all the included studies had high risk of bias and multiple trials lacked long-term follow-ups, further high-quality research is required to determine the long-term effects of DPT vs placebo/other non-surgical interventions.

Ultrasound-Guided Injection of Dextrose Versus Corticosteroid in Chronic Plantar Fasciitis Management: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial

DESIGN

Chronic plantar fasciitis (PF) is a common cause of chronic heel pain, with different conventional treatment options. In this randomized clinical trial, the effect of ultrasound-guided injection of dextrose versus corticosteroid in chronic PF was evaluated and compared.

METHODS

A total of 44 patients suffering from chronic PF who visited the physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic were enrolled in the study. Two table-randomized groups were formed. They received an ultrasonography-guided, single injection of either 40 mg methylprednisolone or 20% dextrose. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Foot and Ankle Ability Measure questionnaire with 2 subscales, Activities of Daily Living (FAAM-A) and Sports (FAAM-S), along with ultrasonographic parameters were evaluated before and at 2 and 12 weeks after the injection. Results. A total of 40 participants completed the study. Both interventions significantly improved pain and function at 2 and 12 weeks postinjection. After 2 weeks, compared with the dextrose prolotherapy, the corticosteroid group had significantly lower daytime and morning NRS scores (2.55 vs 4.1, P = .012, and 2.75 vs 4.65, P = .004), higher FAAM-S (66.84 vs 54.19; P = .047), and lower plantar fascia thickness at insertion and 1 cm distal to the insertion zone (3.89 vs 4.29 mm, P = .004, and 3.13 vs 3.48 mm, P = .002), whereas FAAM-A was similar in both groups (P = .219). After 12 weeks, all study variables were statistically similar between corticosteroid and dextrose prolotherapy groups. No injection-related side effects were recorded in either group.

CONCLUSION

Both methods are effective. Compared with dextrose prolotherapy, our results show that corticosteroid injection may have superior therapeutic effects early after injection, accompanied by a similar outcome at 12 weeks postinjection.

LEVELS OF EVIDENCE

Level II.

Effects of therapeutic interventions on pain due to plantar fasciitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of different therapeutic interventions that have ever been evaluated in randomized controlled trials on pain due to plantar fasciitis.

METHODS

We searched different electronic databases until September 2022. Mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation was used to evaluate the overall certainty evidence.

RESULTS

A total of 236 studies met the study criteria, including 15,401 patients. Botulinum toxin MD -2.14 (CI: -4.15, -0.14), micronized dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane injection MD -3.31 (CI: -5.54, -1.08), dry needling MD -2.34 (CI: -4.64, -0.04), low-dye taping MD -3.60 (CI: -4.16, -3.03), low-level laser therapy MD -2.09 (CI: -2.28, -1.90), myofascial releases MD -1.79 (CI: -2.63, -0.94), platelet-rich plasma MD -2.40 (CI: -4.16, -0.63), radiofrequency MD -2.47 (CI: -4.65, -0.29), and stretching MD -1.14 (CI: -2.02, -0.26) resulted in being effective treatments for pain when compared to the control in the short term. In the medium and long term, only extracorporeal shock wave therapy MD -0.97 (CI: -1.13, -0.81)/MD -2.49 (CI: -3.17, -1.82) was effective for improving pain when compared to the control.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the available studies, this systematic review and meta-analysis showed that different therapeutic interventions seem to be useful strategies for improving pain in patients with plantar fasciitis. In the medium and long term, only extracorporeal shock wave therapy was effective in improving pain when compared to the control.

Comparison of Ultrasound-Guided Prolotherapy Versus Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy in the Treatment of Chronic Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) versus dextrose prolotherapy on pain and foot functions in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis with a prospective randomized-controlled trial. A total of 29 patients in whom conservative care failed were enrolled for the study after the clinical and ultrasonographic assessment. The patients were randomly assigned to receive ESWT (ESWT group, n = 15) or dextrose prolotherapy (dextrose prolotherapy group, n = 14). ESWT group received 1800 to 2000 focused shock waves (session of 0.20-0.30 mJ/mm² with a frequency of 4-6 Hz) followed by soft tissue 3000 to 3500 radial pulses (session of 1.8-3.0 bar with a frequency of 15-21 Hz). Dextrose prolotherapy group underwent an injection of 5 ml 15% dextrose solution with 2% lidocaine. ESWT and dextrose prolotherapy were repeated 3 times by 2 weeks apart. A 100-mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for overall and morning pain, Foot Function Index (FFI) and the Roles and Maudsley Scale score (RMS) were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks after the last intervention. Overall VAS, Morning VAS, RMS and FFI scores improved significantly in both treatment groups at 6 weeks and 12 weeks compared to baseline (p < .001). Comparison of changes in overall VAS, Morning VAS, RMS and FFI scores did not show a significant difference between the groups at each time point (p > .05) In our study dextrose prolotherapy and ESWT had similar effectiveness in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis who have not respond to conservative care. The results showed ESWT and dextrose prolotherapy were not superior to each other.

The effectiveness of dextrose prolotherapy in plantar fasciitis: A systemic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Dextrose prolotherapy (DPT) is considered to be a type of regenerative therapy and is widely used in various musculoskeletal disorders. Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain that affects the quality of life of many people. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of DPT for plantar fasciitis.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched from their respective inception dates to June 2021. Only randomized controlled trials comparing DPT and other interventions for plantar fasciitis were included in this review. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated for comparison. The outcome measurements included visual analog score, numeric rating scale, Foot Function index, Revised Foot Function index, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Score, and plantar fascia thickness. Post-treatment duration was classified as short-term (1-2 months), medium-term (3 months), or long-term (6 months).

RESULTS

Six studies with 388 adult patients diagnosed with plantar fasciitis were included for the meta-analysis. In terms of pain scores improvement, DPT was superior to placebo or exercise in the short-term (SMD: -1.163, 95%CI: -2.17 to -0.156) and the medium-term (SMD: -1.394, 95%CI: -2.702 to -0.085). DPT was inferior to corticosteroid injection in the short-term (SMD: 0.781, 95%CI: 0.41 to 1.152). For functional improvement, DPT was superior to placebo or exercise in the short-term (SMD: -1.51, 95%CI: -2.96 to -0.059), but inferior to corticosteroid injection (SMD: 0.526, 95%CI: 0.161 to 0.89) and extracorporeal shock wave therapy in the short-term (SMD: 0.484, 95%CI: 0.145 to 0.822). Randomized controlled trials showed a better pain improvement in the long-term for patients treated with DPT compared to corticosteroid (P = .002) and exercise control (P < .05). No significant differences were found between patients treated with DPT and patients treated with platelet-rich plasma.

CONCLUSION

Dextrose prolotherapy was a safe and effective treatment option for plantar fasciitis that may have long-term benefits for patients. The effects were comparable to extracorporeal shock wave therapy or platelet-rich plasma injection. Further studies with standardized protocols and long-term follow-up are needed to address potential biases.