Intra-articular glucocorticoid treatment of the rheumatoid wrist. An ultrasonographic study

Fifty consecutive patients with RA and clinical wrist synovitis were random ly allocated to either receive an injection of glucocorticoid into the radi ocarpal joint or have the same amount of drug divided into the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints, Inferior radioulnar joint synovitis was treated with extra steroid injection only in the latter group. Patient's and doctor's as sessments as well as ultrasonography improved significantly at month 3 in b oth groups. A statistical difference between the groups was found in the mi dcarpal joint measurement favouring the extra midcarpal injection. Ten wris ts (20%) were normal when assessed with ultrasound at month 3 while 34 wris ts (68%) were nor-Mal on clinical assessment.