Superficial Vein Thrombosis After Intra-articular Particulate Steroid Injection for Knee Osteoarthritis

• Published in: American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation Vol. 103; no. 2; p. e10
• Main Authors: Sammartino, Francesco, Dean, Steven M, Baria, Michael R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.2024
• Subjects: Humans; Inflammation; Injections, Intra-Articular - methods; Osteoarthritis, Knee - drug therapy; Pain - drug therapy; Thrombosis - drug therapy; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1537-7385
• DOI: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000002359

Intra-articular steroid injections for knee osteoarthritis are a routine procedure in musculoskeletal clinics. While their role in osteoarthritis care is debatable, they serve as an important therapeutic option to relieve osteoarthritis-associated pain. Potential risks are self-limited (increased pain flare, local skin irritation, flushing, insomnia) or severe (septic arthritis, intravascular medication placement, and the deleterious effect on cartilage and bone). In our experience, more serious adverse events are rare. In this case, we present a complication secondary to intra-articular steroid administration that has not previously been reported in the literature: superficial vein thrombosis. This will raise awareness among clinicians, improve the informed consent process, and provide an approach for the management of subsequent injections.