title: Efficacy of ultrasound-guided steroid injections for pain management of midfoot joint degenerative disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the efficacy of ultrasound (US)-guided injections for midfoot joint degenerative changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The US images and radiographs of 63 patients with midfoot joint degenerative changes were retrospectively reviewed. In those patients who had US-guided intra-articular steroid injection, the response to the injection was recorded by reviewing the 2-week pain diaries and clinical notes. Partial or complete pain relief was defined as a positive response and the same or increased level of pain as a negative response to the injection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-nine (59/63, 93.6%) patients with midfoot joint degenerative changes received US-guided injection. The majority of patients had a positive response up to 3 months post-injection (78.4% still experiencing pain relief at 2 weeks, 57.5% at 3 months and fewer than 15% of patients further than 3 months post-injection). The number of positive therapeutic responses did not differ significantly between patients with diagnostic and non-diagnostic response (p = 0.2636).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  US-guided intra-articular injections for midfoot degenerative changes can have a good therapeutic result in the majority of patients up to 3 months post-injection. Therapeutic response cannot be predicted by a positive diagnostic response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust, Windmill Road, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LD, UK. drakonaki@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Eleni E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Drakonaki
authors.forename: James S B
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kho
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ostlere
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones