Looking Back: Safety of Current Treatments

The clinical use of corticosteroid, viscosupplementation, and local anesthestic injections for intra-articular musculoskeletal pathologies remains a popular treatment option. For patients, these options offer a low-risk, minimally invasive, pain-relieving solution for a variety of joint-related complaints. For clinicians, injections often provide diagnostic information in addition to providing therapeutic benefit to the patient. In general, intra-articular injections are considered safe with a low-risk profile; however, adverse events have been reported, and it is critical for patients to understand all possible outcomes after an injection, including complications. In this article, we provide an overview of several common injectable agents for the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and pathologies, with a special focus on the safety profile of corticosteroids, viscosupplementation, and local anesthesic agents.