Complications of local corticosteroid injections

Abstract

Unusual complications associated with local microcrystalline corticosteroid injections were observed in 4 patients with diverse rheumatic disorders. Adverse reactions included bilateral digital flexor tendon rupture following carpal tunnel injection for idiopathic median nerve compression syndrome; bowstring deformity of a finger after local corticosteroid treatment of psoriatic digital flexor tendonitis; carpal tunnel infection following dorsal arthrocentesis of a wrist in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis; and pronounced flushing of the face, neck and chest after intrasynovial corticosteroid injection in a patient with psoriasis and arthritis. This article considers some physiologic actions of corticosteroids possibly responsible for development of these untoward effects.