Use of MRI prior to corticosteroid injections of wrist joints in children with JIA

Purpose The use of intra-articular corticosteroids in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is an accepted therapeutic option as their use has been found to be safe and proven to facilitate rapid resolution of signs and symptoms of inflammation. An increasing number of studies have described improved sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared with conventional radiography in detection of early synovitis, tendinopathy, bone edema, and bone erosions. The purpose of this study was to document joints within the wrist and carpus with active synovitis in children with JIA using MRI and to explore how MRI localization of affected joints prior to intra-articular corticosteroid injection affects outcomes.