Quarterly corticosteroid injections for knee osteoarthritis increased cartilage loss over the course of 2 years without providing any clinical benefit, according to a randomized controlled trial published in the May 16 issue of JAMA. Evoke™ knee brace highlights. OssKin By Honor Whiteman, Medical News Today 16 May 2017 Study co-author Timothy E. McAlindon, of Tufts Medical Center in Boston, MA, and colleagues found that steroid injections administered every 3 months were no better than a placebo for alleviating knee pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). In fact, the researchers found that steroid injections actually led to a greater loss in the volume of bone cartilage over 2 years. “Although the cartilage loss was not associated with worsening of symptom outcomes, rates of cartilage loss have been associated with higher rates of arthroplasty, raising the possibility of potential for longer-term adverse consequences on the health of the joint.” – Timothy E. McAlindon MD MPH. Medscape Based on their findings, McAlindon and colleagues recommend against the use of steroid injections for the treatment of knee OA. OA, also referred to as degenerative joint disease, is the most common form of arthritis, affecting more than 30 million adults in the United States. OA … Continue reading Steroid injections increased cartilage loss in knee arthritis