Although intra-articular injection ...

Although intra-articular injection of corticosteroid is a used by all treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee there is relate to that long-term treatment may stir up joint destruction and tissue atrophy. Arroll and Goodyear-Smith guidanceed a meta-analysis to determine the relative benefits and risks of intra-articlular injections of corticosteroid for osteoarthritis of the knee

The researchers searched electronic databases and regard lists, and contacted authors to identify controll trials and papers concerning intra-articular steroid injection for osteoarthritis of the knee Arroll and GoodyearSmith independently assessed the identified studies for quality and abstracted data to determine relative risk and numbers indigenceed to treat for improvement of symptoms.

Ten studies met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. The dose of prednisone that was injected varied from 625 mg to 80 mg In six of these studies, significant improvement in symptoms of osteoarthritis was demonstrated up to sum of two units weeks after injections, with a relative risk (RR) of 166 and a number distressed to treat (NNT) for undivided stage of improvement of 13 to 35 Neither of the couple high-quality studies showed statistically significant improvement at 16 to 24 weeks, yet their pooled results for improvement at 16 to 24 weeks had an RR of 209 and an NNT of 44

The authors end that intra-articular corticosteroid injections improve symptoms of knee osteoarthritis at sum of two units weeks and up to 16 to 24 weeks. The NNT for benefit is grave (range: 1.3 to 3.5 patients). Although the optimal dose is not clear, the authors estimate that 50 mg of prednisone may be required to present to view benefit for 16 to 24 weeks.

Arroll B Goodyear-Smith F Corticosteroid injections for osteoarthritis of the knee: meta-analysis. BMJ March 23 2004;328:869

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