Recruiting

Ketorolac

Sponsor:

Emory University

Code:

NCT05292339

Conditions

Osteoarthritis

Tendinopathy

Arthropathy

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Triamcinolone injection to the shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand

Ketorolac injection to the shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand

Study Details

Brief summary:

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.

Conditions

Osteoarthritis

Tendinopathy

Arthropathy

Study ID

NCT05292339

Start date

Jan 31, 2023

Status verified date

Sep, 2026

Completion date

Jul, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jul, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

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 \[active infection defined as cellulitis, purulence, fever, chills, or presence of elevated inflammatory markers, ie. white blood cells (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP)\].

Study Design

Enrollment

160 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

active comparator: Triamcinolone injection to the shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand

Participants will receive the triamcinolone injection solutions in a standard fashion. Injections will be performed using the treating physician's standard technique.

active comparator: Ketorolac injection to the shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand

Participants will receive the Ketoralac injection solutions in a standard fashion. Injections will be performed using the treating physician's standard technique.

Interventions

Triamcinolone injection to the shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand

Triamcinolone is a corticosteroid that decreases the inflammatory process by inhibiting the release of arachidonic acid from phospholipids.

Ketorolac injection to the shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand

Ketorolac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that reduces inflammation by inhibiting Cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 dependent prostaglandin release via the cyclooxygenase pathway.

Primary outcome measure

  • Changes in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score [ Time Frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 24 weeks ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Paul A. Ghareeb, MD

404-778-3350paul.ghareeb@emory.edu

Locations

Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital

Recruiting

Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30308

Contacts

Paul A. Ghareeb, MD

(404) 778-3350paul.ghareeb@emory.edu

Emory University Orthopaedic and Spine Center

Recruiting

Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30324

Contacts

Amanda L Demsey, MD

(404) 778-6381amanda.l.dempsey@emory.edu

12 Executive Park Drive

Recruiting

Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30329

Contacts

Paul A. Ghareeb, MD

(404) 778-3350paul.ghareeb@emory.edu

Emory University Orthopaedic and Spine Hospital

Recruiting

Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30329

Contacts

Paul A. Ghareeb, MD

404-778-3350paul.ghareeb@emory.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Emory University

Last update posted

Sep 3, 2026

Last verified

Sep, 2026

Keywords

  • First Carpometacarpal Joint
  • Ketoralac
  • metacarpophalangeal joint osteoarthritis
  • trigger finger
  • De Quervain's tenosynovitis
  • radiocarpal osteoarthritis
  • Triamcinolone
  • Upper extremity

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Emory University on 2026-09-03.