Comparison Clinical Effects of Hypertonic Dextrose and Steroid Injections on Chronic Subacromial Bursitis

Abstract

Abstract Objective The aim of the study is to determine and compare the treatment efficacy of subacromial steroid injections and dextrose prolotherapy for chronic subacromial bursitis patients. Design Fifty-four patients with chronic subacromial bursitis were enrolled in this double-blind randomized controlled trial. Shoulder Pain and Disability Index and visual analog scale were the primary outcomes. Results The steroid group (n = 26) exhibited significant visual analog scale score improvements comparing with baseline at weeks 2, 6, and 12; the dextrose prolotherapy group (n = 28) exhibited visual analog scale score improvements at weeks 6 and 12. The steroid group displayed significant Shoulder Pain and Disability Index score improvements compared with baseline at weeks 2, 6, and 12; the dextrose prolotherapy group exhibited significant score decreases at weeks 2 and 6. Compared with the dextrose prolotherapy group, the steroid group demonstrated significantly greater decreases in visual analog scale scores at weeks 2 and 6; the steroid group showed significantly greater decreases in Shoulder Pain and Disability Index scores at weeks 2, 6, and 12. Conclusions Both hypertonic dextrose prolotherapy and steroid injections can provide short-term improvements of pain and disability among chronic subacromial bursitis patients. Moreover, steroid injections showed better effectiveness than hypertonic dextrose prolotherapy in ameliorating pain and improving function.