Evaluating IPFP Steroid Injections in OA

Randomized trial found no significant differences in pain or effusion synovitis compared with placebo, despite some favorable secondary findings.

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Glucocorticoid injections into the infrapatellar fat pad did not significantly reduce knee pain or effusion synovitis volume compared to placebo in knee osteoarthritis patients.
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The study involved 60 adults aged 45 and older with MRI-confirmed Hoffa and effusion synovitis, randomly assigned to receive either betamethasone or saline.
3

At 12 weeks, the treatment group showed a mean pain reduction of 39.3 mm, but the difference from the placebo group was not statistically significant.
4

Post hoc analyses indicated some secondary outcomes favored glucocorticoid injections, including improvements in pain scores and cartilage defect scores.
5

The study's limitations included a small sample size, short follow-up, and potential placebo effects from concurrent hyaluronic acid injections.

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