Do steroid injections help with osteoarthritis of the knee?

Abstract

Intra-articular steroid injections appear to provide 2 to 6 weeks of pain relief for patients with knee osteoarthritis (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A). Higher-dose steroids with or without joint lavage can provide pain relief up to 24 weeks (SOR: A). Steroid injections may be an appropriate adjunct in the treatment of osteoarthritis, which includes nonpharmacologic treatments (education, weight loss, physical therapy) and pharmacologic therapy (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs], topical and opioid analgesics).