Intra-articular Corticosteroid Injection Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: Is It Effective?
J Arthroplasty 2019;
34:303-308. [PMID:
30477967 DOI:
10.1016/j.arth.2018.10.033]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/27/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for the majority of patients with severe knee osteoarthritis provides relief of symptoms and improved function. However, there remains a subset of dissatisfied patients despite an unremarkable workup. A corticosteroid injection (CSI) is a commonly used nonsurgical treatment for painful knee osteoarthritis but its efficacy in a replaced knee remains unknown.
METHODS
A retrospective chart review identified primary TKA patients who subsequently received a CSI into a replaced knee from 2015 to 2016 by a single surgeon. Patients receiving a CSI underwent clinical examination, laboratory analysis to rule out infection, and radiographic evaluation before CSI. Patient variables were recorded and a patient satisfaction survey assessed the efficacy of the injection. The survey response rate was 70.1%.
RESULTS
Of the 129 responders, 82.9% remembered the injection. The average time from index arthroplasty to injection was median 5.3 months (interquartile range, 2.1-23.4) and 30.8% of patients received more than 1 injection (range, 1-5). Overall, 76.6% reported decreased pain, 57.9% reported increased motion, and 65.4% reported long-term decreased swelling. Improvement lasted greater than 1 month for 56.1% of patients, and overall 84.1% reported improvement (slight to great) in the knee following CSI. No patient developed a periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) within 1 year of injection.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that certain patients following TKA may benefit from a CSI. However, this should only be performed once clinical, radiographic, and laboratory examination has ruled out conditions unlikely to improve long term from a CSI.
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