Sonography of the first metatarsophalangeal joint and sonographically guided intraarticular injection of corticosteroid in acute gout attack.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to identify the characteristic ultrasound (US) findings of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ1) in acute gout attack and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of US-guided intraarticular corticosteroid injection of the MTPJ1.


METHODS
We enrolled 21 patients with acute gout attack involving the MTPJ1 unilaterally. US evaluation of each affected MTPJ1 was compared with radiographic features. US-guided intraarticular corticosteroid (0.5 ml [20 mg] of triamcinolone mixed with 0.5 ml of 2% lidocaine) was injected into the affected MTPJ1s. Pain, general disability, and walking disability were assessed at baseline, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 7 days after injection with visual analog scales.


RESULTS
The characteristic US findings of MTPJ1 were erosion, joint effusion, synovial hypertrophy, tophus-like lesion, double contour, hyperechoic spots, and increased power Doppler signal in acute gout attack. US was more sensitive than conventional radiograph in detecting erosion and tophus-like lesion. The reductions of mean visual analog scale scores in pain, general disability, and walking disability were 48 mm (SD, 27), 35 mm (SD, 26) and 39 mm (SD, 26), respectively, 48 hours after US-guided intraarticular corticosteroid injection. There were no adverse events.


CONCLUSIONS
US is a sensitive tool to evaluate joint abnormality of the MTPJ1 in acute gout attack and US-guided intraarticular corticosteroid injection to this joint is effective and safe.
['Kang|Myung Ho|MH|', 'Moon|Ki Won|KW|', 'Jeon|Yong Hwan|YH|', 'Cho|Seong Whi|SW|']
D000208:Acute Disease D005260:Female D005500:Follow-Up Studies D005938:Glucocorticoids D006073:Gout D006801:Humans D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular D008297:Male D008683:Metatarsophalangeal Joint D008875:Middle Aged D010146:Pain D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity D016896:Treatment Outcome D014221:Triamcinolone D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
joints corticosteroid gout foot musculoskeletal ultrasonography