Periarticular calcifications in association with intra-articular corticosteroid injections.

The authors report on three patients who received intra-articular corticosteroid injections (IACI) in the small joints of their hands for the symptomatic relief of local inflammation. In these cases radiographs showed that among the complications of IACI are periarticular soft-tissue calcifications. Evidence suggests that these calcifications are composed of hydroxyapatite crystals, which may themselves produce inflammatory arthritis.