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Infection risk not impacted by intra-articular steroid injection before THA
Intra-articular steroid injection of the hip does not raise the risk for infection in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty, according to this study from researchers in Belgium.
In a retrospective review, the researchers investigated the records of 175 patients who had intra-articular steroid injections within 1 year prior to total hip arthroplasty (THA). The investigators matched the cohort with a group of demographically similar patients who had not undergone injection.
The study showed there no differences in superficial or deep infection rates between the cohorts. One patient in each group developed a late chronic infection, while three patients in the injected group and one patient in the control group had a positive intraoperative culture. Superficial infections developed in five injected patients and seven control patients.
“When used in strictly aseptic conditions, intra-articular steroid injection of the hip did not increase the risk of infection in patients subsequently undergoing THA,” the authors concluded.
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Meermans G. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2012. doi: 10.1007/s11999-012-2390-8