2024 EFORT Annual Meeting: Injection therapies for base of thumb arthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised studies

Nine randomized controlled trials including 411 patients with base of thumb arthritis were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis comparing various injectable treatments (normal saline, hyaluronic acid, and corticosteroids). Pooled outcomes of interest included patient-reported pain (VAS), function, lateral pinch strength, and complications at different follow-up periods. The pooled results indicated no significant differences in pain outcomes between treatments in the short term, but single hyaluronic acid injections showed clinically significant mid-term pain relief compared to other treatments. Overall, single hyaluronic acid injections may offer the most effective mid-term pain relief and are well-tolerated.