The Shoulder

ARTHRITIS : INJECTIONS

The I.A. injections show a deterioration

Causing an Iatrogenic infectious arthritis.
Although the chance for an infection after an intra-articular injection is very small, it still represents a very serious and (with older or weakened persons) sometimes life threathening complication. Thus, I.A. injections should only be administered if a thorough antiseptic care is ensured especially when the injection is made into a high-risk patient.
Flare up of a crystal-induced arthritis.
Triamcinolone-acetonide is administered under the form of a crystalline suspension. The crystals can cause a selflimiting crystalsynovitis: an increase of the inflammation a couple of hours after the injection and disappearing spontaneously after 24 to 72 hours. The differential diagnosis with a septic arthritis is not always clear, although the latter occurs somewhat later and is accompanied by fever and a general feeling of being unwell.