Comparison of the Efficacy of Intra-Articular Corticosteroid Injections Versus Saline Solution for Thumb Osteoarthritis: Double-Blind Pragmatic Randomized Pilot Study
Thumb osteoarthritis or trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis (TMO) is a common and painful form of hand arthritis that limits thumb mobility and hand function, affecting patients' quality of life. Although corticosteroids injections are a typical treatment, their effectiveness has been challenged, and side effects have been reported. Recent studies suggest that saline injections, usually considered inactive, might be a viable treatment option. The primary goal of this study is to compare the effectiveness of saline injections versus corticosteroids injections in reducing TMO-related pain and improving hand function. In this study, 40 people with TMO will be randomly assigned to receive either a corticosteroids or a saline injection, without them or the doctors performing the injection knowing which one was administered (double blind). If saline injections prove more effective, they could provide a less harmful and cheaper therapeutic alternative for TMO patients.
• aged ≥18 years;
• diagnosis of TMO was confirmed by X-ray interpreted by a radiologist;
• suffering from pain at the base of the thumb;
• the attending physician deems that an intra-articular corticosteroid injection would be beneficial, rather than opting for other types of intervention such as surgery
• can read, understand and answer in either French or English.