Dextrose Injections Have Osgood-Schlatter Disease on Its Knees

Osgood-Schlatter Disease (OSD) — a patellar tendon pathology with associated tibial tubercle apophysitis — is common in adolescents who compete in running and jumping sports. OSD can cause knee pain and affect activity for months to years and is treated primarily with rest. In a randomized double-blind study, researchers in Argentina compared treatment with 12.5% dextrose/1% lidocaine injections, 1% lidocaine injections, or usual care (exercises and 2 or more physical therapy appointments) in 54 athletes (age range, 10–17 years; 94% boys; 65 affected knees) with OSD. All participants had failed conservative treatment with 2 months of stretching/strengthening and played with pain for at least 3 months. In the dextrose/lidocaine and lidocaine…