# Effectiveness of steroid intra-articular injections on functioning in children and adolescents affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a systematic review

## TL;DR

This review finds that steroid injections can effectively treat juvenile arthritis in children, with one type showing longer-lasting benefits.

## Contribution

The study highlights the superior effectiveness of triamcinolone hexacetonide for prolonged remission in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

## Key findings

- Intra-articular corticosteroid injections improve arthritis symptoms in children with JIA.
- Triamcinolone hexacetonide is more effective than other corticosteroids in prolonging remission.
- The treatment is generally safe, but more high-quality studies are needed.

## Abstract

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatic disease of childhood, and steroid intra-articular injections are a fundamental treatment modality among local therapeutic interventions. The aim of this systemic review was to assess the scientific evidence on the effectiveness and safety of intra-articular corticosteroids (IACS) injections, focusing on a comparative examination of the different therapeutic options.

PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were systematically searched from the inception until February 25, 2025, to identify observational studies presenting participants with a diagnosis of JIA, IACS injections for joints affected by arthritis as interventions, and clinical or radiological assessment of arthritis as outcomes.

Findings from this systematic review suggested that IACS injections might be effective in improving arthritis in patients affected by JIA, with good evidence of safety. Moreover, the review underlines a higher efficacy of triamcinolone hexacetonide among corticosteroids used for injections. Further studies with a higher level of evidence and more representative samples should be conducted. 
What is Known:• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most prevalent chronic rheumatic condition in childhood and represents a major cause of disability.• The management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis involves a variety of therapeutic modalities, among which intra-articular corticosteroid injections.What is New:• Intra-articular corticosteroid injections induce rapid symptom control and prolonged remission in a substantial proportion of patients.• Among different types of corticosteroids, triamcinolone hexacetonide is more effective in prolonging remission duration in JIA.

What is Known:

• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most prevalent chronic rheumatic condition in childhood and represents a major cause of disability.

• The management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis involves a variety of therapeutic modalities, among which intra-articular corticosteroid injections.

What is New:

• Intra-articular corticosteroid injections induce rapid symptom control and prolonged remission in a substantial proportion of patients.

• Among different types of corticosteroids, triamcinolone hexacetonide is more effective in prolonging remission duration in JIA.