Evaluation of the Efficacy of Corticosteroids in Septic Arthritis in Adults (CORSAR)

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Corticosteroids in Septic Arthritis in Adults: Randomized Double-blind Controlled Trial

Septic arthritis is a severe infection associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite eradication of the microorganisms, persistent inflammation may lead to substantial long-term functional joint sequelae. The use of corticosteroids could reduce this inflammation, thereby improving functional joint outcomes and facilitating first-line medical treatment. The hypothesis of this study is that corticosteroid administration, in addition to antibiotic therapy, reduces persistent inflammation and improves functional joint prognosis in adult patients with acute septic arthritis.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Septic Arthritis
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: oral prednisone or placebo at a dose of 60 mg per day for 7 days

Detailed Description

Septic arthritis is a severe infection with a mortality rate of 10-15% and morbidity up to 25% due to rapid joint destruction. Despite antibiotic treatment, persistent intra-articular inflammation increases the risk of long-term joint damage. Standard care includes antibiotics and joint drainage, either surgically (arthrotomy or arthroscopy) or by repeated bedside aspiration. Surgery carries risks of nosocomial infections and complications, and aspirations are not always feasible.

Corticosteroids are currently not recommended in adult septic arthritis due to concerns that their anti-inflammatory effects might worsen infection. However, corticosteroids have shown benefits in other infections, improving outcomes in meningitis and pneumonia. Animal studies suggest that host inflammatory responses, particularly activation of CD4+ lymphocytes and macrophages, drive joint damage, and corticosteroids reduce this inflammation, preserving cartilage.

In children with septic arthritis, corticosteroids have been shown to reduce long-term joint damage, symptom duration, and hospital stay without increasing infection risk. To date, no randomized controlled trials have evaluated corticosteroids in adult septic arthritis.

This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of adjunctive corticosteroid therapy with antibiotics in adults with septic arthritis, focusing on reducing joint sequelae, pain, hospital stay, and surgical interventions.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 200
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Benjamin ROSSI, PhD; Phone Number: +33 1 45 21 37 58; Email: benjamin.rossi@ght-gpne.fr

Study Locations

• France
  • Aulnay-sous-Bois, France
    • Hopital Robert Ballanger

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Documented septic arthritis (microorganism identified intra-articularly by culture or PCR, or by turbid synovial fluid with positive Gram stain, or positive blood cultures)
• Effective antibiotic therapy initiated within ≤ 3 days
• Effective contraception for women of childbearing age during treatment period
• Signed informed consent
• Affiliation to the French national health insurance system
• Ability to read, write, and understand French

Exclusion Criteria:

• Polyarticular septic arthritis (≥ 2 joints)
• Septic arthritis of small joints (e.g., fingers: proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP), distal interphalangeal joints (DIP), MetaCarpoPhalangeal (MCP); toes: MTP)
• Systemic sclerosis
• Pyomyositis
• Diabetic foot infection
• Current corticosteroid therapy for another indication
• Inability to take oral medication
• Contraindication to corticosteroids
• Associated endocarditis
• Presence of prosthetic joint or osteosynthesis material in the affected joint
• Septic shock
• Severe soft tissue wound overlying the joint
• Aplastic chemotherapy
• Neutropenia (defined as neutrophils < 500/mm³)
• Mycobacterial infection
• Fungal infection
• Sickle cell disease
• Current pregnancy
• Breastfeeding women
• Patients under legal protection (e.g., guardianship)
• Participation in another interventional clinical trial
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Unstable psychiatric disorders
• Adults unable to provide informed consent
• Contraindication to corticosteroid therapy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental group; Prednisone 60 mg/day for 7 days.	Drug: oral prednisone or placebo at a dose of 60 mg per day for 7 days; oral prednisone or placebo at a dose of 60 mg per day for 7 days
Placebo Comparator: Control group; Placebo of prednisone 60 mg/day for 7 days.	Drug: oral prednisone or placebo at a dose of 60 mg per day for 7 days; oral prednisone or placebo at a dose of 60 mg per day for 7 days

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
To assess the effect of adjunctive corticosteroid therapy added to standard antibiotic treatment on functional joint outcomes at 24 weeks in adult patients with acute septic arthritis.	This outcome will be assessed using the total WOMAC score (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) for lower limb involvement (hip, knee, or ankle joints). Scores range from 0 to 96 for the total WOMAC where 0 represents the best health status and 96 the worst possible status.	24 weeks
To assess the effect of adjunctive corticosteroid therapy added to standard antibiotic treatment on functional joint outcomes at 24 weeks in adult patients with acute septic arthritis.	For upper limb involvement (shoulder, elbow, or wrist joints), the QuickDASH score (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) will be used. Scores are calculated only for responses with at least 10 of the 11 items completed and transformed to a scale of 0-100, with higher scores indicating greater disability	24 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
To evaluate the effect of corticosteroids on joint range of motion.	Joint flexion and extension measured at weeks 1, 6, and 24 using a goniometer. Presence of flexion contracture (defined as incomplete extension) at 3 months, assessed only for septic arthritis of the hip and knee.	1, 6, and 24 weeks
To assess joint-related complications.	Any complication assessed by radiological examination of the joint at week 24.	24 weeks
To determine whether corticosteroid administration affects the need for surgical intervention.	Number of surgical interventions between randomization and week 24.	24 weeks
To evaluate whether corticosteroids modify the duration of antibiotic therapy.	Duration of antibiotic therapy.	24 weeks
To assess the impact of corticosteroids on length of hospital stay.	Length of hospital stay	24 weeks
To evaluate the effect of corticosteroids on pain.	Pain assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at weeks 1, 6, and 24. range of scores from 0-10. A higher score indicates greater pain intensity	24 weeks
To assess the effect of corticosteroids on overall mortality.	Overall mortality.	24 weeks
To evaluate the impact of corticosteroids on systemic inflammation.	Biological inflammatory markers measured at weeks 1, 6, and 24.	24 weeks
To assess the effect of corticosteroids on patient-reported recovery.	Patient self-assessment of recovery on a 0 to 5 scale (0 = no improvement, 5 = full recovery) at weeks 1, 6, and 24.	24 weeks
To evaluate the impact of corticosteroids on quality of life.	Quality of life assessed by the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire at week 24.	24 weeks
To assess corticosteroid tolerance, including glycemic control and neuropsychiatric effects.	All adverse effects and side effects, particularly glycemic control and neuropsychiatric effects, monitored through patient self-surveillance.	24 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): March 30, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 13, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 26, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 26, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Corticosteroid; Antibiotic therapy; Articular prognosis; Acute septic arthritis
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases; Arthritis; Joint Diseases; Infections; Arthritis, Infectious; Polycyclic Compounds; Pregnadienes; Pregnanes; Steroids; Fused-Ring Compounds; Pregnadienediols; Prednisone
• Other Study ID Numbers: APHP240792; 2025-522193-37-00 (Ctis)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No