American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

For patients with osteoarthritis who have one symptomatic joint, what is an appropriate targeted therapy?

1. Oral NSAIDs

2. Intra-articular glucocorticoid injection

3. Topical analgesics

4. Physical therapy

The correct answer is: Intra-articular glucocorticoid injection

In patients with osteoarthritis who are experiencing symptoms in a single joint, an intra-articular glucocorticoid injection is often considered an appropriate targeted therapy. This treatment modality delivers medication directly into the affected joint, providing localized relief from inflammation and pain. The benefits of using intra-articular glucocorticoids include rapid onset of action and the ability to address inflammation directly at the source. This can lead to significant relief of symptoms in a targeted manner, making it especially helpful for patients who may not respond adequately to systemic treatments or who prefer to avoid them due to side effects. Intra-articular injections can be particularly effective in managing flare-ups of osteoarthritis symptoms in individual joints, allowing for improved function and quality of life. This targeted approach is suitable when the clinical scenario involves a single symptomatic joint, aligning with the goal of minimizing systemic medication exposure while providing effective relief where it is needed most.