How to perform local soft-tissue glucocorticoid injections

Inflammation of periarticular soft-tissue structures such as tendons, tendon sheaths, entheses, bursae, ligaments and fasciae are the hallmark of many inflammatory rheumatic diseases, but inflammation – or rather irritation – of these structures also occurs in the absence of an underlying rheumatic disease. In both these primary and secondary soft-tissue lesions, local glucocorticoid injection often is beneficial, although evidence in literature is limited. This chapter reviews local injection therapy for these lesions and for nerve compression syndromes.

Keywords: bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, compression neuropathy, glucocorticoid, injection, lidocaine, periarticular structures, soft-tissue rheumatism, tendinitis/tendonitis, therapy, treatment