Efficacy of Intra-Articular Triamcinolone Acetonide Injections for Wrist Pain in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: Synovectomy, arthroplasty, and other surgical procedures are generally used to correct wrist joint destruction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methodology: We unilaterally injected 20 mg of triamcinolone acetonide and 5 mL of 1% lidocaine hydrochloride of RA patients with joints pain who refused surgery. We then evaluated the clinical benefit and safety of intra-articular triamcinolone acetonide by analyzing data on (1) the number of injections with Larsen’s grade and whether a biologic was used or not, (2) decrease in visual analog scale pain, (3) changes in carpal height ratio, radio carpal distance ratio and radial rotation angle in dorso-palmar plain X-ray imaging, and (4) the side effects of triamcinolone acetonide injection into the joints. Results: The mean number of injections per patient was less than 5 times, and sufficiently reduced or eliminated joints pain. X-ray evaluation did not reveal progress of joint destruction due to triamcinolone acetonide. No side effects of injection did not occur. Conclusions: It was found that joint injection of triamcinolone acetonide can reduce joint pain and suppress joint destruction, and it is possible that surgery will not be necessary in the future.