Efficacy of mesotherapy for pain, function and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Objective: Mesotherapy (local intradermal injection) is a frequently preferred treatment method as an alternative treatment option for musculoskeletal system pain in recent years. It is based on the hypothesis that the microdrug deposit formed in the intradermal area acts by spreading slowly into the underlying tissues. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of mesotherapy on pain, functional status and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis. There is no randomized controlled study evaluating the effectiveness of mesotherapy in knee osteoarthritis. Patients and Methods: 43 patients (56 knees) diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis according to ACR criteria were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, single blind, placebo-controlled study according to inclusion/exclusion criteria. The patients received a total of 4 weeks of mesotherapy injection (Mesotherapy group) and normal saline injection (Control group) once a week. The patients were evaluated at baseline, 1 month and 3 months after the treatment. Pain was evaluated by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), functional status by the Western Ontario Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and quality of life by Short Form-36 (SF36). Results: A total of 39 patients (52 knees) completed the study. Significant improvement was found on VAS pain scores, WOMAC scores and SF-36 scores in the first month after the treatment in both groups compared to baseline (p <0.05). Statistically significant effects which observed on pain, functional status and quality of life continued in the mesotherapy group until the 3rd month after the treatment, but no benefit was observed in the control group at 3 months. Compared to the control group significant improvement was found in the mesotherapy group in terms of activity and resting pain VAS scores (p<0,05), WOMAC scores (p<0,01) and SF36 scores (p<0,05) at 1 and 3 months after the treatment. Conclusion: Mesotherapy can be a safe and effective alternative treatment option that reduces pain, improves functionality and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Keywords: Knee osteoarthritis, mesotherapy