Hip, knee steroid injections may be harmful: Study

New York: Commonly given hip and knee steroid intra-articular injections may be harmful to some patients with at-risk conditions, according to a new study.
Corticosteroid injections are often given to reduce pain and inflammation from osteoarthritis.
Researchers from Boston University have found accelerated arthritis and joint destruction can be the unintended result of intra-articular corticosteroid injections.
“We are now seeing that these injections can be very harmful to the joints with serious complications such as osteonecrosis, subchondral insufficiency fracture and rapid progressive osteoarthritis,” said study author Ali Guermazi, Professor at Boston University.
“Intra-articular corticosteroid injection should be seriously discussed for pros and cons. Critical considerations about the complications should be part of the patient consent which is currently not the case right now,” he added.