Overview
A procedure frequently performed by orthopaedic providers is the administration of corticosteroid injections for the management of various soft tissues and joint-related conditions, such as osteoarthritis, tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, and de Quervain's tenosynovitis. While these injections have demonstrated effectiveness in alleviating symptoms, the discomfort associated with the procedure can be a source of anxiety and apprehension for patients. This discomfort arises from the sensation of the needle entering the affected area and the burning sensation induced by the corticosteroid solution.
Description
The use of adjuvant radiotherapy appears to provide clinical benefit, both theoretically and based on available retrospective data. This is why some patients already benefit from this complementary treatment. However, given the lack of prospective data, the use of adjuvant radiotherapy is based on heterogeneous criteria, depending on the choice of the clinician in charge of the patient or the habits of his institution.
The sponsor team therefore propose to conduct a national prospective study to compare the efficacy and safety of a strategy integrating adjuvant radiotherapy versus a strategy based on surveillance in patients with SCC at high risk of recurrence.
Considering that there is no validated standard after surgery for patients with a high risk of recurrence, it is not possible to determine a standard arm and an experimental arm. This study therefore falls within the framework of a Research Involving the Human Person of Category 2.
This protocol constitutes the first prospective evaluation of adjuvant radiotherapy, within the framework of a comparative study. This study will thus make it possible to avoid the use of this therapeutic alternative, without rigorous evaluation in a prospective framework. Its robust methodology will make it possible to determine whether adjuvant radiotherapy provides a clinical benefit to patients at high risk of recurrence. It will modify the standards of care for this patient population.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- 18 years and older
- Receiving a corticosteroid injection in an upper or lower extremity (to include soft tissue and joint injections) for the first time
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients with previous injection experiences


