Background: Efficacy of intra-articular injections is controversial and published studies on efficacy and risks are few.
Aims: We sought the opinion of practicing orthopaedic consultants in order to establish the perceived benefits and risks of infection following intra-articular steroids.
Methods: A questionnaire was sent to all the orthopaedic consultants in the UK and Ireland on the use of intra-articular steroids.
Results: A total of 853 completed questionnaires (response rate 57.4%) were analysed. The perceived risk of infection was 1:1000 in almost half of the surgeons polled and 1:10,000 in one third. The 759 consultants who administer intra-articular steroids recalled sixty-eight cases of infection; 85.2 % of the surgeons rated efficacy 5 or above on a visual analog score of 1-10.
Conclusions: Correct patient selection, proper indications for use, and a limited number of appropriately spaced injections were all perceived to be important to achieve maximum benefit without serious side-effects.