Articular and periarticular corticosteroid injections

Intra-articular and soft tissue injections of corticosteroid are widely used in the treatment of patients with rheumatic disorders. Hydrocortisone acetate, which was the first to be used, was introduced over forty years ago. Several synthetic corticosteroids followed: but critical comparisons of the different corticosteroid preparations were few and inconclusive when we last reviewed them. In this article we consider the preparations, when they help, who should give them, their risks and the precautions necessary.