Prolotherapy / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

Prolotherapy is defined as “the rehabilitation of an incompetent structure such as ligament or tendon by induced proliferation of new cells” in the dictionary. It may include any treatment promoting the proliferation of new cells such as stem cell therapy. Traditionally, prolotherapy has been thought of as a method of strengthening a lax ligament by injecting various types of sclerosing or proliferant solutions which have commonly included hypertonic dextrose. And this therapy should involve the process of injecting solutions at the enthesis, where tendons and ligaments attach to the bone, to cause an inflammatory reaction. This inflammation initiates the regeneration and repair processes of the injured tissue in and around the joint to promote tissue proliferation and growth. Therefore, the method of prolotherapy includes the injection of small volumes of an irritant solution at painful ligament and tendon insertion sites over several treatment sessions. Because prolotherapy is a treatment modality that may provide a solution to a patient who complains of enthesopathic pain symptoms, it may be beneficial prior to long-term medication treatment or surgical intervention. Despite controversies over prolotherapy, its usage appears to be increasing gradually. This article discusses the current state of knowledge on prolotherapy and informs it to the physicians who manage the musculoskeletal pains.