Efficacy of Ultrasound-monitored Meniscal Wall Betamethasone Infiltration on Pain in Degenerative Meniscal Injury: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Multicenter Trial

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying degenerative meniscal pain, a common cause of knee discomfort, to evaluate the effectiveness of corticosteroid injections guided by ultrasound. The trial compares betamethasone injections to placebo injections to determine their impact on pain relief one month after treatment. This research addresses the current uncertainty and low evidence supporting corticosteroid use for meniscal pain, following guidelines recommending medical treatment before surgery. Participants will receive a single ultrasound-guided injection into the meniscal wall, either with betamethasone (a corticosteroid) or a placebo saline solution. The injection procedure involves local anesthesia and precise needle placement using ultrasound and Doppler to avoid arteries. The study is randomized, double-blind, and multicenter, with both patients and evaluators unaware of the treatment group. Follow-ups include a visit at 1 month and phone calls at 7 days and 3 months after the injection. During the study, participants will undergo clinical evaluations and pain assessments using pain scores and the KOOS questionnaire at 1 and 3 months. Researchers will monitor adverse events and analgesic responses to assess treatment effects and safety. The trial lasts at least 3 months with multiple touchpoints for symptom and function evaluation to provide objective evidence on the value of corticosteroid infiltration for degenerative meniscal pain.

Meniscal INfiltration of Corticosteroid Guided With Ultra Sonography