Multiple steroid injections into arthritic joints do not improve outcomes more than other injections
Question
Are multiple intra-articular corticosteroid injections more effective and safer than other joint injections in patients with degenerative joint disease?
Conclusion
In this systematic review, patients with degenerative joint disease who received multiple corticosteroid injections did not have more meaningful pain relief than those who received other injections. Since 2 studies reported either cartilage loss or joint space narrowing among steroid-treated patients, more data are needed to determine just how safe they are.