Trial procedure: randomization and treatment allocation
RA
STERILE, BLIND
Consecutive eligible patients in all sites who agreed to participate in the study were randomized by block of four by a study coordinator to receive intraarticular injection of either 10 mg of Triamcinolone acetonide (TA) (10 mg per milliliter, ml) or 40 mg (40 mg per ml) of TA. All TA were manufactured by L.B.S. Laboratory Limited. The IA TA injections were prepared by research nurses. Either 10 or 40 mg of TA was drawn into a syringe plus 3 ml of 1% lidocaine and then the syringe was taped to blind the investigators. The knee joint injections were performed under sterile condition by a certified rheumatologist (SC) or certified orthopedists (OP and RA) with the same technique (suprapatellar approach). The synovial fluid, if present, was maximally removed prior to the IA corticosteroid injection. Synovial fluid was analyzed for cell count and crystals.