David C. Miller, MD, MA1; Jaymin Patel, MD2; Jatinder Gill, MD3; Ryan Mattie, MD4; Mathew Saffarian, DO5; Byron J. Schneider, MD6;Adrian Popescu, MD7; Vivek Babaria, MD8; and Zachary L. McCormick, MD9
On behalf of the Spine Intervention Society’s Patient Safety Committee
Myth: Epidural and intraarticular steroid injections have no effect on the risk of contracting COVID-19 infection.
Fact: There is low-quality evidence that a single intraarticular corticosteroid injection may increase the risk of contracting the influenza virus. No study has yet been published that examines whether or not a corticosteroid injection increases the risk of contracting COVID-19 or alters the clinical course of a subsequent infection. While caution is advised based on this indirect evidence, more studies are needed to determine the full correlation of corticosteroid administration and risks of contracting COVID-19.