Indications and Usefulness of Common Injections for Nontraumatic Orthopedic Complaints

Abstract

Pain related to various musculoskeletal conditions is a common patient complaint, and one that is often difficult to remedy. In addition to oral analgesics and physical therapy, local injections (most commonly of corticosteroids) are a common intervention and have been for decades. However, in most cases, the literature is full of poor-quality studies, making the true utility of these injections questionable. This article reviews some of the literature studying these injections with the goal of providing clinicians the information to make evidence-based, high-value choices.

Keywords: Arthritis; Corticosteroids; Joint injections; Steroid injections; Tendinopathy.