TY - JOUR T1 - Intraarticular corticosteroid injection for first carpometacarpal osteoarthritis. JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 1305 LP - 1306 VL - 32 IS - 7 AU - Raman Joshi Y1 - 2005/07/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/32/7/1305.abstract N2 - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of intraarticular corticosteroid injections for osteoarthritis (OA) of the first carpometacarpal (CMC) joint. METHODS: This was a prospective case series of patients presenting to a community rheumatology clinic with OA of the 1st CMC joint. A total of 0.25 ml of methylprednisolone acetate was injected into the 1st CMC joint in 25 patients, who were followed for one year. RESULTS: A significant improvement in the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain was noted at one month but not at 3, 6, or 12 months postinjection. However, 5 patients were pain-free at 12 months postinjection. Many patients noted improvement in tasks such as lifting a full cup and turning a faucet. Injections were well tolerated, with only 2 patients noting minor side effects. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that intraarticular corticosteroid injection for 1st CMC OA is a well tolerated procedure. A significant longterm benefit of corticosteroid injection for 1st CMC OA was not observed. ER -