[Intra-articular injections in osteoarthritis]

Intra-articular injections are part of long-standing symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis. Numerous products were injected into arthritic joints to whether analgesic, anti-inflammatory or disease-modifying antirheumatic drug. Corticosteroids and viscosupplements are the only permitted as they are validated by controlled studies and part of the treatment of osteoarthritis recommended by scientific societies. The intra-articular injections are effective in limb osteoarthritis, short term for corticosteroids, in the longer term but more delayed, smaller and less constant for viscosupplements, provided they are properly performed. These local treatments do not have to summarize the treatment of osteoarthritis, but integrated into a comprehensive care without neglecting the non-pharmacologic measures. Their benefit should be reassessed regularly for each patient and their effectiveness is often decreased with the progression of osteoarthritis when it does not stabilize. The injection conditions must be rigorous to ensure greater efficiency and reduce the side effects which are rare and usually benign.