Safety of Corticosteroid Injections

Safety of Corticosteroid Injections:
Reluctantance to use corticosteroid injections in or around muscle-tendons is because of concern of incomplete healing or rupture. However a report on injuries sustained by players in an NFL team spanning in the last 13 years demonstrated not only were there no complications due to cortosteroid use, the players that received the treatment healed faster, recovered better and missed less game time due to injury.

This report by Dr William Levine and colleagues reviewed the computer database of an NFL team for all hamstring injuries sustained from 1985 to 1998. Of the 400 odd cases 58 received corticosteroid treatment. A clinical grading system was developed by the physicians to access the severity of each hamstring tear. Once the researchers complied the data they found of the 58 treated with corticosteroids, only 9 missed any game time because of the injury. Analysis of final examinations revealed no defects in strength force production and normal muscle bulk and tone. Although there was no control group to provide correct scientific verification, the doctors were clear with their diagnosis; that intramuscular injections of corticosteroids do hasten recovery and players' time to full play. It also appears to lessen the games and practice time they miss.

ref: Intramuscular corticosteroid injection for hamstring injuries: A 13-year experience in the National Football League. Am.J.Sports Med. Vol28. No3. 200