Research in Brief

Abstract

Ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection of triamcinolone and lidocaine in addition to best current treatment (advice and education) might be an effective treatment option for hip osteoarthritis, according to a pragmatic single-blind trial by Zoe Paskins and colleagues. 199 patients aged 40 years or older with hip osteoarthritis and at least moderate pain were randomly assigned to receive best current treatment (n=67), best current treatment plus ultrasound-guided injection of triamcinolone and lidocaine (n=66), or best current treatment plus ultrasound-guided injection of lidocaine only (n=66). Mean improvement in hip pain intensity over 6 months (the primary outcome; 0–10 numerical rating scale) was greater with ultrasound-guided triamcinolone and lidocaine injection than with best current treatment alone (standardised mean difference −0·55 [95% CI −0·82 to −0·27]). Hip pain intensity did not differ significantly between lidocaine injection and best current treatment alone (−0·52 [−1·21 to 0·18]). One death occurred in the triamcinolone and lidocaine group, deemed possibly related to study treatment (subacute bacterial endocarditis in a patient with a bioprosthetic aortic valve).