Corticosteroid Against Saline Injections for Thumb Osteoarthritis (CASITOA)

Thumb osteoarthritis or trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis (TMO) is a common and painful form of hand arthritis that limits thumb mobility and hand function, affecting patients' quality of life. Although corticosteroids injections are a typical treatment, their effectiveness has been challenged, and side effects have been reported. Recent studies suggest that saline injections, usually considered inactive, might be a viable treatment option. The primary goal of this study is to compare the effectiveness of saline injections versus corticosteroids injections in reducing TMO-related pain and improving hand function. In this study, 40 people with TMO will be randomly assigned to receive either a corticosteroids or a saline injection, without them or the doctors performing the injection knowing which one was administered (double blind). If saline injections prove more effective, they could provide a less harmful and cheaper therapeutic alternative for TMO patients.

NCT Number	NCT06401317
Lead Sponsor	Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières Collaborators: Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Geriatrie de Montreal, McGill University, Université de Montréal, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal
Conditions	Trapeziometacarpal Osteoarthritis
Enrollment	40 participants
Start Date	2025-11-04
Primary Completion	2027-12-31 (estimated)
Study Completion	2028-12-31 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-01-22