Low-dose radiotherapy versus corticosteroid injection for hand and wrist osteoarthritis
Low-Dose Radiotherapy Compared to Corticosteroid Injection for Treatment of Hand Osteoarthritis
This trial will test whether low-dose radiotherapy or a corticosteroid injection works better to reduce pain for people 50 and older with hand or wrist osteoarthritis.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 4 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 165 (estimated) |
| Ages | 50 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Mayo Clinic Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Rochester, Minnesota) |
| Trial ID | NCT07217405 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This interventional, phase 4 trial at Mayo Clinic in Rochester compares two active treatments for hand/wrist osteoarthritis: low-dose radiotherapy and corticosteroid joint injection. Eligible participants are adults 50 years or older with radiographic osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2–4) and at least moderate hand pain (VAS ≥40). Participants receive one of the two treatments and complete standardized pain and function questionnaires during follow-up visits. The trial excludes patients with inflammatory arthritis, recent hand surgery or injections, opioid or recent steroid use, and other confounding hand conditions.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 50 or older with radiographic hand or wrist osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2–4), a current hand pain score of at least 40/100 on VAS, and ability to complete study questionnaires are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with inflammatory joint disease, recent hand surgery or injection, recent opioid or systemic steroid use, fibromyalgia/central sensitization, or other confounding hand conditions are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the comparison could identify a treatment that provides more durable pain relief or better function for people with hand or wrist osteoarthritis.
How similar studies have performed: Corticosteroid injections are commonly used and provide short-term pain relief, while low-dose radiotherapy has shown symptomatic benefit in some smaller European studies but is less widely studied for hand osteoarthritis.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patient at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN * Age 50 years or older * Mild, moderate, or severe hand OA (Kellgren and Lawrence classification grade 2, 3, or 4) on hand radiographs within the last 24 months * Hand OA pain with a minimum VAS score relating to hand pain of ≥40 (on a 100-point scale) when using the affected hand * Ability to complete study questionnaires Exclusion Criteria: * History of previous surgery to the affected hand(s) * Autoimmune joint disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis * Active confounding hand condition such as stenosing tenosynovitis or Dupuytren's contracture * Recent injury (within last 1 month) to the affected hand causing current pain * History of crystalline arthritis (gout or pseudogout) flare in the affected hand(s) * Active use of opioid pain medication(s) or oral steroids within the last 3 months * Fibromyalgia or central sensitization syndrome * Hand CSI or other hand injection within the past 3 months * History of hand LDRT within the past 3 months * Poorly controlled diabetes (HbA1c \> 10%) * Active infection * Current pregnancy
Where this trial is running
Rochester, Minnesota
- Mayo Clinic in Rochester — Rochester, Minnesota, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Terin Sytsma, MD — Mayo Clinic
- Study coordinator: Tochukwu Iyke-Nzeocha
- Email: Iyke-Nzeocha.Tochukwu@mayo.edu
- Phone: (507) 422-3201
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.