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Ketorolac in Upper Extremity Tendinopathy and Arthropathy

Single Blind RCT to Evaluate the Effect of Ketorolac in Upper Extremity Tendinopathy and Arthropathy

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18 or older,
* symptomatic tendinopathy or arthropathy of the shoulder, elbow, hand, or wrist who have not undergone prior surgical treatment for their condition.
* Diagnoses may include trigger finger, De Quervain's tenosynovitis, radiocarpal osteoarthritis, first carpometacarpal (CMC) joint osteoarthritis, metacarpophalangeal joint osteoarthritis, or proximal interphalangeal joint osteoarthritis.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients under the age of 18,
* Patients who have undergone prior triamcinolone or ketorolac injections within the past 6 months,
* Patients who have undergone prior surgical treatment for their hand condition,
* Patients with allergy or contraindication to triamcinolone or ketorolac injection,
* Patients with an active infection at the treatment site \[active infection defined as cellulitis, purulence, fever, chills, or presence of elevated inflammatory markers, ie. white blood cells (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP)\].

About the study

Osteoarthritis (OA) and inflammatory conditions of the tendons and joints of the shoulder, elbow, hand, and wrist are common yet disabling diseases. Standard management utilizes conservative measures to minimize pain and improve function. Conservative pharmacological management commonly includes corticosteroid and ketorolac injections which have been well investigated as a modality of pain control and improved function in large joint OA. However, fewer studies yielding mixed results on the duration of symptomatic relief exist for arthropathy and tendinopathy of these joints.

The goal of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of ketorolac and triamcinolone injections for common shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand tendinopathy or arthropathy.

Participants will be blinded to the treatment received. The duration of an individual participant's participation in this study is 24 weeks. During this time period, patients will be asked to return to the clinic for an in-person follow-up 6 weeks after the injection with either ketorolac or triamcinolone) in order to assess participants' outcomes. All work related to this project will take place at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex, Emory Executive Park, Emory Musculoskeletal Institute, the Emory University Orthopaedic and Spine Hospital, and the Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital. This study will add to existing knowledge by providing further insight into how wrist arthropathy should be most optimally and conservatively managed.

What is being tested

• Triamcinolone injection to the shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand (drug)
• Ketorolac injection to the shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand (drug)

Sponsor: Emory University · Participants: 160 · Started: Jan 31, 2023

Contact the study team

• Paul A. Ghareeb, MD · Phone: 404-778-3350

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT05292339

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Osteoarthritis
• Tendinitis
• Joint Disorders

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.