Perceived efficacy and risks of infection following intra-articular injections: a survey of orthopaedic surgeons.

BACKGROUND

Efficacy of intra-articular injections is controversial and published studies on efficacy and risks are few.

AIMS

We sought the opinion of practicing orthopaedic consultants in order to establish the perceived benefits and risks of infection following intra-articular steroids.

METHODS

A questionnaire was sent to all the orthopaedic consultants in the UK and Ireland on the use of intra-articular steroids.

RESULTS

A total of 853 completed questionnaires (response rate 57.4%) were analysed. The perceived risk of infection was 1:1000 in almost half of the surgeons polled and 1:10,000 in one third. The 759 consultants who administer intra-articular steroids recalled sixty-eight cases of infection; 85.2 % of the surgeons rated efficacy 5 or above on a visual analog score of 1-10.

CONCLUSIONS

Correct patient selection, proper indications for use, and a limited number of appropriately spaced injections were all perceived to be important to achieve maximum benefit without serious side-effects.