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Corticosteroid — Intra-articular / Intramuscular

Triamcinolone Acetonide (Intra-articular)

Brand names: Kenalog, Adcortyl

This is intra-articular triamcinolone acetonide, a long-acting corticosteroid injected directly into a joint to relieve inflammation and pain in conditions such as osteoarthritis flares, rheumatoid arthritis, and other inflammatory arthropathies.

Dosing — being independently re-sourced

ClinCalc Pro is rebuilding its dose data from primary open sources — the manufacturer SmPC (eMC), the WHO Model Formulary and other official references — under clinician review. This drug's structured dose is not yet published here. Confirm all doses against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

Clinical monograph

How it works

The glucocorticoid acts locally within the joint to suppress inflammatory cytokine release and immune cell activity, reducing synovial inflammation.

Prescribing in practice

  • Never inject into a joint suspected of being septic, and use strict aseptic technique, as intra-articular injection can introduce or mask joint infection.
  • Limit the frequency of injections into any single joint, as repeated steroid exposure may accelerate cartilage damage and joint deterioration.
  • A transient post-injection flare of pain can occur, and some systemic absorption may briefly affect glycaemic control in people with diabetes.

Monitoring

Monitor the injected joint for signs of infection, watch for post-injection flare, and check glycaemic control in people with diabetes after injection.

Counselling the patient

  • Rest the treated joint for a day or two after the injection.
  • Seek urgent advice if the joint becomes hot, swollen, or increasingly painful with fever.
  • If you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugars more closely for a few days.

Evidence & guidelines

Intra-articular corticosteroid injection is supported by trials and guidelines for short-term symptom relief in inflammatory and degenerative joint disease.

Reference: BSR/BHPR Intra-articular Injection Guidelines; SPC Kenalog; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Related

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

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