Efficacy of three different techniques in the fluoroscopy-guided intra-articular steroid injection of the hip: a randomized controlled trial

Fluoroscopy-guided injection via the anterior (A), anterolateral (AL), or proximal anterolateral (PAL) approaches are the common hip injection techniques without comparing the efficacy of the three techniques. The prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted from August 2020 to March 2022. Included patients with intra-articular hip disorders indicated an intra-articular steroid injection. Excluded significant spine pathology with radiculopathy or significant neurological deficits, previous hip surgery of the injection side, suspected tumor or infection origins, steroid or contrast media allergy, and body mass index > 35 kg/m(2). The primary outcome was the injection attempt defining one attempt and multiple attempts. 90 patients were recruited and allocated to 30 per group. There were no differences between A, AL, and PAL respectively regarding the success in one attempt rate (80%, 80%, 90%; p = 0.533), VAS during local anesthetic injection (4.33 ± 1.99, 3.70 ± 2.34, 4.27 ± 2.49; p = 0.500), VAS during intra-articular injection (4.27 ± 1.87, 4.70 ± 2.37, 4.13 ± 2.37; p = 0.587), radiation doses (0.558 ± 0.313, 0.526 ± 0.485, 0.492 ± 0.275 mGy; p = 0.788), radiation time (0.043 ± 0.017, 0.039 ± 0.021, 0.041 ± 0.015 seconds; p = 0.723), and complications. The post-injection mHHS was improved in all three approaches without significant differences.