Does intraarticular steroid infiltration increase the rate of infection in subsequent total knee replacements?

Steroid injection into the arthritic joint is a well-known treatment. Its efficacy is well documented. An increase in the incidence of infection secondary to steroid injection has been reported in recent literature. Based on the current literature we carried out a retrospective study to evaluate the incidence of infection in primary total knee arthroplasty as a result of previous steroid infiltration into the knee joint. In our study, 440 patients underwent total knee replacement between 1997 and 2005. Only 90 patients had intraarticular steroid injection prior to surgery, of which 45 patients had injection within 1 year prior to surgery. A matched cohort of 180 patients who had total knee replacement without steroid injection was used as control group to compare the infection rate. All patients had at least 1 year follow up. Two cases of superficial infection were noted in the study group and five cases of superficial infection in the control group. No cases of deep infection were noted in either group. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference in incidence of infection in either group (P value 1.0). This study showed no increase in the incidence of infection in patients with total knee arthroplasty with prior steroid injection.