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Primary Care

Corticosteroid injections for osteoarthritis of the knee: meta-analysis

BMJ 2004; 328 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38039.573970.7C (Published 08 April 2004) Cite this as: BMJ 2004;328:869
  1. Bruce Arroll, associate professor (b.arroll{at}auckland.ac.nz)1,
  2. Felicity Goodyear-Smith, senior lecturer1
  1. 1Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, School of Population Health University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019 Auckland
  1. Correspondence to: B Arroll
  • Accepted 21 January 2004

Abstract

Objectives To determine the efficacy of intra-articular corticosteroid injections for osteoarthritis of the knee and to identify numbers needed to treat.

Data sources Cochrane controlled trials register, Medline (1966 to 2003), Embase (1980 to 2003), hand searches, and contact with authors.

Inclusion criteria Randomised controlled trial in which the efficacy of intra-articular corticosteroid injections for osteoarthritis of the knee could be ascertained.

Results In high quality studies, the pooled relative risk for improvement in symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee at 16-24 weeks after intra-articular corticosteroid injections was 2.09 (95% confidence interval 1.2 to 3.7) and the number needed to treat was 4.4. The pooled relative risk for improvement up to two weeks after injections was 1.66 (1.37 to 2.0). The numbers needed to treat to get one improvement in the statistically significant studies was 1.3 to 3.5 patients.

Conclusion Evidence supports short term (up to two weeks) improvement in symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee after intra-articular corticosteroid injection. Significant improvement was also shown in the only methodologically sound studies addressing longer term response (16-24 weeks). A dose equivalent to 50 mg of prednisone may be needed to show benefit at 16-24 weeks.

Footnotes

  • Contributors BA and FG-S were involved in extracting the data, appraising the article, and writing the paper. BA did the mathematical pooling; he will act as guarantor for the paper. The guarantor accepts full responsibility for the conduct of the study, had access to the data, and controlled the decision to publish.

  • Funding This study was funded by the New Zealand Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Corporation. Their role was limited to commissioning the work

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Ethical approval Not required

  • Accepted 21 January 2004
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