Abstract
Background: Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) is one of the most common lower leg injuries in sporting populations. It accounts for between 6%-16% of all running injuries, and up to 53% of lower leg injuries in military recruits. Various treatment modalities are available with varying degree of success. In recalcitrant cases, surgery is often the only option.Objective: To evaluate whether ultrasound-guided injection of 15% dextrose for treatment of recalcitrant Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome decreases pain and facilitates a return to desired activity levels for those who may otherwise be considering surgery or giving up sport.Design: Prospective case seriesSetting: Private specialist CentrePatients: Eighteen patients: fifteen male and three female; (mean age=31.2 years) with MTSS were referred from sports injury clinics across the UK, having failed all available conservative treatment.Intervention: An ultrasound-guided sub-periosteal injection of 15% dextrose was administered by the same clinician (NP) along the length of the symptomatic area. Typically, 1 mL of solution was injected per cm of symptomatic area. Main Outcome Measures: Pain was assessed using a 10-cm visual analogue scale (VAS) at baseline, short-term, medium-term (mean 18 weeks) and long-term (mean one year) follow-up. Symptom resolution and return to activity were measured using a Likert scale at medium and long-term follow-up. Results: Patients reported a significant (p<0.01) reduction in median VAS pain score at medium and long-term follow-up compared to baseline. Median improvement per patient was 4.5/10. Patients rated their condition as ‘much improved’ at medium-term follow-up and median return to sport score was ‘returned to desired but not pre-injury level’ at medium-term and long-term follow-up. No adverse events were reported.Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided 15% dextrose prolotherapy injection has a significant medium-term effect on pain in MTSS. This benefit may be maintained long-term. More robust trials are required to validate these findings.Clinical Relevance: Clinicians should consider the use of ultrasound-guided injection of 15% dextrose as a viable treatment option to reduce pain and aid return to activity for patients with recalcitrant Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome.
Consecutive, prospective case series of a new method for ultrasound-guided supraclavicular approach to the brachiocephalic vein in children
