Intra-articular corticosteroid injection for inflammatory monoarthritis in adults

In an acute inflammatory monoarthritis, septic arthritis must be excluded before considering intra-articular corticosteroid injection. If septic arthritis is unlikely and synovial fluid has been sent for culture, intra-articular corticosteroid may be injected for inflammatory monoarthritis. If in doubt, defer injecting corticosteroids until the synovial fluid microscopy results are available. Avoid injecting intra-articular corticosteroids if there are any local or systemic signs of infection. See Principles of using local corticosteroid injections for musculoskeletal pain for advice on drug choice and dosage, and absolute contraindications to local corticosteroid injection. Example doses for local corticosteroid injection by size of the joint for adults provides example doses for local corticosteroid injections by size of the joint.