Efficacy of dextrose prolotherapy for temporomandibular joint hypermobility: A systematic review and meta-analysis

We reviewed the efficacy of dextrose prolotherapy versus placebo and other active interventions, like autologous blood injection (ABI) and botulinum toxin (BTX), in improving the outcomes of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) hypermobility. We searched PubMed, the Cochrane CENTRAL library, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) . Maximal mouth opening (MMO), pain, and frequency of dislocations were analyzed. Eight RCTs were included. In comparison with placebo, dextrose prolotherapy was associated with significantly reduced pain and MMO. Comparison of dextrose with ABI revealed no significant difference in MMO. Qualitative analysis showed no significant difference in outcomes in patients who received dextrose prolotherapy and BTX. Low-quality evidence suggests that dextrose prolotherapy may reduce MMO and improve pain scores compared to placebo in patients with TMJ hypermobility. Low-quality evidence also suggests that there may be minimal difference in outcomes between dextrose vs ABI and BTX.