Evidence base

Question 1

The beneficial effects of steroid injections are mainly seen in long term or short term?

Answer 1

The short term (3-6 months).

Evidence of longer term benefit when compared with other treatments are often lacking.

Question 2

A better result is often obtained by using higher or lower dose in a particular condition/location?

Answer 2

Higher dose

Question 3

Better results are obtained when the contition beeing treated is severe/cronic or not too severe/cronic

Answer 3

Not too severe/cronic

Question 4

Chances of success are greatly influenced by:

Answer 4

Correct patient selection, correct lesion diagnosis and accurat needle placement/steroid delivery

Question 5

Advice after injection to improve response rate and/or duration:

Answer 5

Resting the injected tissue

Question 6

Evidence for accuracy of “blind injection”:

Answer 6

Evidence is conflicting from 27% to 100% accuracy in different studies on different joints

Question 7

Benefits of image guidance?

Answer 7

Improves accuracy but does not necessarily improve outcomes. Guided injections add to the costs of treatment.
There is insufficient evidence to use guided injections on the basis of efficacy alone