Intraarticular Corticosteroids

Our search found only four placebo comparison studies that met criteria and evaluated pain relief for a minimum treatment period of four weeks.^102-105 One study found IA corticosteroids to be superior to placebo on WOMAC total subscale scores at four weeks.¹⁰² However, another study found IA corticosteroid injections inferior to hyaluronic acid injections¹⁰⁶ and a third study found IA corticosteroids inferior to needle lavage (tidal irrigation).¹⁰⁷Since the evidence in the guideline did not support the use of hyaluronic acid or needle lavage, the work group interpreted the evidence to be inconclusive as to the benefit of IA corticosteroids.