Rheumatology pre-operative assessment clinic

What happens before my steroid joint injections?

A couple of weeks before your steroid joint injections you will be asked to come into hospital for a pre-operative assessment.

This is to ensure that you understand what will happen when you have your joint injections, to give you an opportunity to ask questions and to check that you are well enough to have general anaesthetic. You may also be required to have some investigations.

What investigations will I need?

You will need to have your height and weight measured and you may also need blood tests.

Who will I see?

The clinic will be run by the Rheumatology Team Co-ordinator who will answer your questions and liaise with the different medical professionals who will be involved in your care.

You will also see a member of staff from the Rheumatology Team who will explain about your steroid joint injections in more detail and consent you for the procedure.

On the day of the steroid joint injections you will be assessed by an anaesthetist who will ensure that you are fit and well for a general anaesthetic (GA).

Are there any risks associated with a general anaesthetic (GA)?

Any general anaesthetic carries risk and it is important that you are aware of these before you consent to go ahead.

Please bear in mind that your consultant will have balanced all these risks with the benefits of treatment in their decision to carry out joint injections.

Please see also the information on general anaesthetics for more information.

What will happen after my joint injections?

You will be offered an appointment with one of the Rheumatology Team physiotherapists 4 to 6 weeks after your steroid joint injections. This is to ensure that you have full range of movement in the affected joints once the injections have been given.

Please remember to bring shorts to this appointment.

Who should I contact if I have further questions?

If you would like to speak to another child or teenager who has already had joint injections we can try to arrange this.

It may be a good idea to write down any questions you have and bring them along when you attend the pre-assessment clinic.