THE EFFICACY OF INTRA-ARTICULAR STEROIDS IN OSTEO-ARTHRITIS - A DOUBLE-BLIND-STUDY

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 7  (6) , 850-856
Abstract
Patients (17) with painful osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee were given an intraarticular injection of corticosteroid while an equal number were given only the suspending vehicle. One week later the corticosteroid group had significantly less pain than the placebo group but by 4 wk post-injection the difference between the 2 groups was insignificant. Post-injection flares occurred in both groups, suggesting a steroid crystal-induced synovitis was not the cause. Because the additional pain relief afforded by the steroid was temporary and the possible deleterious effects of intraarticular steroids are still debated, their judicious use in OA is advised.