Improvement in Wrist Pain with Ultrasound-guided Glucocorticoid Injections: A Meta-analysis of Individual Patient Data

• Published in: Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism 2013-04, Vol.42 (5), p.492-497
• Main Authors: Dubreuil, Maureen, MD, Greger, Stephanie, MD, LaValley, Michael, PhD, Cunnington, Joanna, MBBS, MD, Sibbitt, Wilmer L., MD, Kissin, Eugene Y., MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arthralgia - pathology; Arthralgia - physiopathology; Arthralgia - prevention & control; Glucocorticoids - administration & dosage; Humans; Injection; Injections, Intra-Articular; Pain Management - methods; Pain Measurement; Rheumatology; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography, Interventional; Ultrasound; Wrist; Wrist Joint - diagnostic imaging; Wrist Joint - pathology; Wrist Joint - physiopathology
• ISSN: 0049-0172; 1532-866X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2012.09.006

Objectives This meta-analysis compares change in wrist pain following ultrasound-guided (US-guided) intra-articular glucocorticoid injections with change in pain after palpation-guided injections in persons with inflammatory arthritis or osteoarthritis. Methods Data sources included MEDLINE, Cochrane, BIOSIS, CINAHL, ACR/AHRP abstracts, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Studies that assessed change in wrist pain with direct comparison of US-guided and palpation-guided injections were included in the meta-analysis. Subject-level data was sought from authors of all relevant studies. Primary outcome was mean change in wrist pain from baseline to 1–6 week follow-up by visual analog scale (VAS). Mean difference in VAS was calculated for comparative studies. Secondary outcome was proportion attaining Minimal Clinically Important Improvement (MCII), defined as VAS reduction≥20%. Odds ratios (ORs) of MCII were calculated for comparative studies. Mean differences in VAS and ORs for MCII for comparative studies were combined using fixed and random effects meta-analysis. Results Ten studies were eligible, and adequate data was available from 4 studies with direct comparison of US-guided and palpation-guided treatment arms. The difference in mean VAS reduction (US-guided minus palpation-guided) ranged from−0.2 to 1.3, with a combined estimate of 1.0 (95% CI 0.3, 1.7). OR for MCII in comparative studies ranged from 1.0 to 12.4, with a combined OR of 3.2 (95% CI 1.2, 8.5) in favor of ultrasound. Conclusions US-guided glucocorticoid injections to the wrist result in greater reductions in pain, and greater likelihood of attaining MCII than palpation-guided injections at 1–6 weeks follow-up.