Corticosteroid/Ropivacaine Versus Corticosteroid/Saline Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis

Overview

About this study

Corticosteroid injections are commonly used for the symptomatic treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Common practice is to inject the joint with a combination of corticosteroid and local anesthetic, with the rationale of providing longer duration pain relief with the corticosteroid and immediate, though short duration relief with the anesthetic. However, multiple in vitro and animal studies have shown that local anesthetic may be harmful to chondrocytes. Despite this data, use of intra-articular anesthetic remains widespread. Many clinicians believe incorporating the anesthetic is important because it can provide immediate pain relief and facilitate patient confidence in the treatment program. However, there is no published data to validate this reasoning. Therefore, the anesthetic has unknown clinical benefit and may have adverse effects on articular cartilage. In light of this, the investigators question the routine use of anesthetics in joint injections. The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of knee joint injections using: 1) corticosteroid with local anesthetic versus 2) corticosteroid with normal saline.

Participation eligibility

Participant eligibility includes age, gender, type and stage of disease, and previous treatments or health concerns. Guidelines differ from study to study, and identify who can or cannot participate. There is no guarantee that every individual who qualifies and wants to participate in a trial will be enrolled. Contact the study team to discuss study eligibility and potential participation.

Inclusion Criteria:

Age 18 or older
Knee osteoarthritis (uni- or bilateral) as defined by the American College of Rheumatology (staged by Kellgren-Lawrence radiographic grading scale)

Exclusion Criteria:

Rheumatologic/inflammatory disease
Metabolic bone disease
Crystalline arthropathy
Current smoking
BMI > 40
Knee injection with corticosteroid or viscosupplementation within previous 6 months
History of knee prolotherapy, platelet rich plasma or cellular (stem cell) injection
Knee surgery within the last year
Chronic opioid use
Chronic pain syndrome/fibromyalgia
Pain behavior during the clinical encounter as judged by the injecting physician
Physician specifically ordered injection of corticosteroid/anesthetic or other specific combined corticosteroid injection
Diagnostic uncertainty by referring provider
Referral for bilateral knee or multiple joint injections (*note that arthritis involving multiple joints alone is not an exclusion criteria, only the patient receiving more than 1 injection)

Participating Mayo Clinic locations

Study statuses change often. Please contact the study team for the most up-to-date information regarding possible participation.

Mayo Clinic Location	Status
Rochester, Minn. Mayo Clinic principal investigator Jacob Sellon, M.D.	Closed for enrollment

Mayo Clinic Location

Status

Rochester, Minn.

Mayo Clinic principal investigator

Jacob Sellon, M.D.

Closed for enrollment

More information

Publications

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