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Can effusion-synovitis measured on ultrasound or MRI predict response to intra-articular steroid injection in hip osteoarthritis?

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Abstract

Objectives

Intra-articular steroid injection (IASI) is an effective therapy for hip osteoarthritis (OA), but carries risks and provides significant pain relief to only two thirds of patients. We attempted to predict response to IASI in hip OA patients using baseline clinical, ultrasound, and MRI data.

Methods

Observational study of 97 subjects with symptomatic hip OA presenting for IASI. At baseline and 8 weeks we obtained hip MRI, grayscale and Doppler ultrasound, clinical range of motion (ROM), timed-up and go test (TUG) scores, and self-reported Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) pain, stiffness, and function scores. Bone-capsule distance (BCD) measurements of inflammation on hip ultrasound and MRI were measured at three locations: the proximal-most uncovered portion of the femoral head, the superficial-most (apex) portion of the femoral head, and the largest fluid pocket at the femoral neck.

Results

Ultrasound and MRI BCD correlated with each other significantly and strongly at the apex and neck. Power Doppler findings did not correlate significantly with any other imaging indices. Eight weeks post-injection, WOMAC pain, function, and stiffness scores significantly improved and TUG time improved nearly to the level of significance, but there were no significant changes in ultrasound, MRI, or Doppler indices. Baseline variables were not significantly different between responder and nonresponder WOMAC pain or TUG time cohorts.

Conclusion

Basic measures of inflammation on ultrasound and MRI are highly related to each other, but provide little insight into patient function and pain after IASI. Other mechanisms to explain improvement in patient status after IASI are likely at work.

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Acknowledgements

This manuscript was part of a large project involving members of multiple specialties, all of whom were integral to the creation of this manuscript. We would like to specifically thank Joanne McGoey, Benjamin RK Smith, Omar Azmat, and Lawrence D Stillwater for their essential contributions.

Funding

Capital Health Chair in Diagnostic Imaging.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, 2A2.41 WMC, 8440—112 Street NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2B7, Canada

    K. J. D. Steer, T. T. Nguyen, A. Schankath, R. G. W. Lambert & J. L. Jaremko

  2. Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    G. P. Bostick & L. J. Woodhouse

  3. McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Calgary, AB, Canada

    L. J. Woodhouse

Authors
  1. K. J. D. Steer
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  2. G. P. Bostick
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  3. L. J. Woodhouse
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  4. T. T. Nguyen
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  5. A. Schankath
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  6. R. G. W. Lambert
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  7. J. L. Jaremko
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. J. D. Steer.

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Conflicts of interest

Kieran JD Steer has received funding from the Northern Alberta Clinical Trials and Research Centre. Robert GW Lambert has received funding from AbbVie, BioClinica, Parexel, UCB. Linda J Woodhouse has received funding from Alberta Health Services, American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), Focus of Therapeutic Outcomes (FOTO), Eli Lilly, Scholar Rock Inc., and Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA). Dr. Jaremko is supported by the Capital Health Endowed Chair in Diagnostic Imaging.

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Steer, K.J.D., Bostick, G.P., Woodhouse, L.J. et al. Can effusion-synovitis measured on ultrasound or MRI predict response to intra-articular steroid injection in hip osteoarthritis?. Skeletal Radiol 48, 227–237 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-018-3010-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-018-3010-9

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