The comparison of Hypertonic Dextrose and Corticosteroid On the treatment of first Carpometacarpal osteoarthritis

Background: Osteoarthritis of the first Carpometacarpal joint is a common debilitating problem. Because of the important role of thumb in upper limb function, Pain of the disease, joint’s instability and deformity, causes functional disorder of the hand. The usual treatments have various and short term consequences. In this study, the injection of Hypertonic dextrose and corticosteroid in the named joint has been compared. Materials & Methods: This study was a prospective randomized double blind Clinical trial. In the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Clinic of 501 Army hospital, Among the new patients having the inclusion criteria in the year 1388-89, 30 hands were randomized to each treatment group. A Questionnaire on the Patients’ demographic identity was filled out, then the variables on this study and the two comparisons were registered right at the beginning of the study and after one, two and six months consecutively. Results: In both groups 6 months after the initiation of intervention, symptom severity through the factors of pain on joint pressure and pain on movement, Gripping, Eating and Dressing function and the maximum lateral pinch strength were greatly improved, but most of the factors (including pain on pressure &joint movement, Dressing &Gripping function) in Dextrose group versus Corticosteroid were improved more significantly.(p<0.05) Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, Dextrose injection versus Corticosteroid could have a better long term effects and might have lesser side effects.