Promising results of prolotherapy in an elderly male with bilateral partial rotator cuff lesions

Introduction: The aim of this report was to present the results of prolotherapy in a 62-year-old male with bilateral partial rotator cuff lesions.

Materials and Methods: A 62-year-old male admitted to our clinic with major complaint of severe pain in his both shoulders for three months. Both shoulders movements were painful and the ranges of motions were not ably decreased. On magnetic resonance imaging, partial ruptures on the right infraspinatus and left supraspinatus tendons were revealed. In addition, tendinosis were determined on supraspinatus, infraspinatus and subscapularis muscles in the right shoulder, as well as subscapularis tendon in the left shoulder. Ultrasound-guided prolotherapy injections were applied weekly, as follows: 1.8 ml 25% dextrose and 0.2 ml lidocaine to subacromial bursa, and 9 ml 15% dextrose and 1 ml lidocaine to tuberculum majus and minus as well as the painful areas through up to four different points for 5 times in every 21 days. The patient was also enrolled to a therapeutic exercise program.

Results: Four months after the first injection, bilateral shoulder functions were greatly recovered, and pain was alleviated. Visual Pain Scale (VPS) has been decreased from 93 to 10 in the left, and from 95 to 9 in the right, while Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) reduced from 75.7 to 2.6 (left) and from 88 to 3.2 (right). On the other hand, Western Ontario Rotatory Cuff Index (WORC) increased from 20.3% to 86.8% in the left, and from 10.4% to 94.5% in the right. Bilateral motion of shoulders was far better and Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) values were also improved.

Conclusion: We think that prolotherapy is …