Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40319407›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of hand surgery2025

Are Preoperative Corticosteroid Injections in Large or Intermediate Joints Associated with Surgical Site Infection After Soft Tissue Hand Surgery? A Retrospective Database Analysis.

Thompson Zhuang, Ellis M Berns, Mitchell Hallman, Hannah H Lee

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of hand surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Thompson ZhuangDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Electronic address: thompson.zhuang@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
Ellis M BernsDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
Mitchell HallmanDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
Hannah H LeeDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.

Funding

RRD VA IK2 RX003947
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeIn this study, we asked the following question: Is intra-articular corticosteroid injection at a distant site prior to hand surgery associated with an increased risk of (1) surgical site infection, (2) reoperation for infection, or (3) wound dehiscence?

methodsUsing a national administrative claims database, we identified adult patients undergoing carpal tunnel, trigger finger, or DeQuervain release. Patients were divided into four cohorts: intra-articular corticosteroid injection between 0 and 30, 31 and 60, or 61 and 90 days before surgery or no injection within 90 days prior to surgery. Large and intermediate joints were considered. We measured surgical site infection incidence, reoperation, and wound dehiscence within 90 days after surgery. We created multivariable logistic regression models to evaluate the association between preoperative corticosteroid injection and each outcome, adjusting for age, sex, region, insurance plan, Elixhauser comorbidities, and history of tobacco use.

resultsReceiving a large-joint corticosteroid injection between 0 and 30, 31 and 60, or 61 and 90 days before surgery was not associated with surgical site infection or reoperation. Receiving a large-joint corticosteroid injection between 0 and 30 days before surgery was associated with a slightly higher incidence of wound dehiscence compared to no injection (0.5% vs 0.4%). Receiving an intermediate-joint corticosteroid injection between 0 and 30, 31 and 60, or 61 and 90 days before surgery was not associated with the incidence of surgical site infection, reoperation, or wound dehiscence. In patients with diabetes, receiving a corticosteroid injection within 90 days before surgery in a large or intermediate joint was not associated with an increased risk of surgical site infection, reoperation, or wound dehiscence.

conclusionsCorticosteroid injections into large- and intermediate-sized joints can be safely administered before hand surgery from a surgical site infection perspective, including in patients with diabetes. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognosis II.

Indexed as

Adrenal Cortex HormonesCarpal Tunnel SyndromePreoperative CareSurgical Wound InfectionTrigger Finger DisorderAdultAgedDatabases, FactualFemaleHumansIncidenceInjections, Intra-ArticularMaleMiddle AgedReoperationRetrospective StudiesAdrenal Cortex HormonesCorticosteroidglucocorticoidinfectioninjectionsoft tissue hand surgery

Identifiers

PMID40319407
PMCPMC12836209

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.