title: Appropriateness of clinical and organizational criteria for intra-articular injection therapies in osteoarthritis. A Delphi method consensus initiative among experts in Italy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to identify the main aspects involved in patient selection, the choice of therapeutic agents and the safety profile, as well as the medico-legal and organizational aspects of intra-articular injection therapies for osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A committee of 10 experts from Italian universities, public hospitals, territorial services, research institutes and patient associations was set up. Fifty-two clinicians from a large number of Italian medical centers specialized in intra-articular injection therapy took part in a Delphi process aimed at obtaining consensus statements among the participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Large consensus was obtained for statements grouped under the following main themes: treatment indications; drug/medical device choice; treatment efficacy; and appropriate setting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The consensus statements developed by a large number of experts may be used as a practical reference tool to help physicians treat osteoarthritis patients by means of intra-articular injection therapies.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Fisica e Riabilitativa, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paoloni
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Fisica e Riabilitativa, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernetti
authors.affiliation: UOC di Radiologia Diagnostica ed Interventistica, Ospedale San Giovanni Calibita Fatebenefratelli, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Belelli
authors.affiliation: Società Italiana di Medicina Generale, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Ovidio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Brignoli
authors.affiliation: UOC di Medicina Fisica e Riabilitativa, ULSS 13 Mirano, Italy.
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buoso
authors.forename: Achille Patrizio
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Caputi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Catani
authors.affiliation: Ufficio Relazioni Esterne, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coclite
authors.affiliation: Direzione Scientifica, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fini
authors.affiliation: Centro di Studi e Ricerche sulla Sanità Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.affiliation: UOS di Reumatologia, Ospedale San Pietro Fatebenefratelli, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Migliore
authors.affiliation: Ufficio Relazioni Esterne, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Napoletano
authors.affiliation: ANMAR - Associazione Nazionale Malati Reumatici Onlus, Italy  
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Viora
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Fisica e Riabilitativa, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valter
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Santilli
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D032921:Consensus; D003697:Delphi Technique; D019468:Disease Management; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D007558:Italy; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents