Safety of total hip replacement following an intra-articular steroid hip injection – An audit


Published online: Apr 30 2012

Biju SANKAR, Shanaka SENEVIRATNE, Sarkhel RADHA, Aysha RAJEEV, Paul BANASZKIEWICZ

From Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, U.K.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the deep infection rates in patients who underwent a total hip replacement after having had a prior diagnostic steroid injection into the same hip.
We identified and reviewed the case notes, relevant radiographs and microbiology reports of all patients who underwent a total hip replacement after a diagnostic steroid hip injection in our unit from 1 January 2007 to 31 April 2009.

There were 40 patients. (10 males and 30 females) Their mean age was 68.4 (52-82) years. The mean time interval from the injection to the joint replacement was 6.2 (2-23) months. The mean follow-up was 23.2 (11-37) months. None of the patients in the study group developed a deep infection during this follow-up period.

Diagnostic intra articular steroid and local anaesthetic injection prior to total hip replacement appears to be safe.

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