Knee function after intra-articular steroid injection

Intra-articular injection of cortico-steroids have been employed in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis [R.A.] for a long time. Thirty patients with R.A. were included in this study. Synovitis with effusion of the knee joint was the major symptomatic problem with no response to NSAID and second line drugs. Under aseptic condition, aspiration was done, then 40 mg triamcinolone acetonide injected to the knee joint. There was improvement of pain, tenderness, mid-knee circumference, stride length and walking time. This improvement was found highly significant between pre-treatment and 2 and 6 weeks post treatment [P<0.001]