Intra-articular Glucocorticoid Treatment of the Elbow

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Interventions: Behavioral: immobilisation in a triangular sling

• Registration Number: NCT00972530
• Lead Sponsor: Region Gävleborg

Brief Summary

BACKGROUND: Intra-articular glucocorticoid injections are frequently used to relieve symptoms of arthritis. Postinjection rest has been shown to improve the outcome of knee joint injections, but not for wrist injections. Consequently, different joints respond differently on postinjection regimens.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether better treatment results might be achieved of post-injection rest following intra-articular glucocorticoid treatment for elbow synovitis.

METHODS: 90 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and elbow synovitis were treated with 20 mg intra-articular triamcinolone hexacetonide and randomised to either a 48 hour immobilisation in a triangular sling (n=46) or normal activity without restrictions (n=44). Primary endpoint was relapse of synovitis. In addition, pain, function according to a self assessment questionnaire (PREE) and range of movement were followed for six months.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2006-01
• Primary Completion: 2008-12
• Study Completion: 2008-12
• Study First Submitted: 2009-09-03
• Study First Submitted QC: 2009-09-04
• Study First Posted: 2009-09-07
• Results First Submitted: 2009-09-10
• Status Verified: 2009-10
• Results First Submitted QC: 2009-10-09
• Results First Posted: 2009-11-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-02-18
• Last Update Posted: 2019-03-14

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 90

Inclusion Criteria

• Rheumatoid arthritis, and
• Clinical signs of elbow synovitis

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients in function class 4 according to Steinbrocker as well as patients with oral glucocorticoid treatment corresponding to more than 7.5 mg prednisolone or intra-articular treatment in the joint the past three months

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
immobilisation	immobilisation in a triangular sling	48 hours postinjection rest

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Relapse of Arthritis	Regular visits at one week, 3 months and 6 months.	The patients were followed for six months and if signs and symptoms recurred in between the patients were told to contact the rheumatology department. In such cases the elbow was re-examined and if a relapse could be confirmed the duration of effect was recorded and if needed the patient was offered another injection.