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Taking people in United StatesPhase 4

Low-dose radiation versus steroid injection for osteoarthritis of the hand and wrist

Compares low-dose radiation with steroid injection for hand and wrist osteoarthritis.

Key facts

Who runs it
Mayo Clinic
Where
Rochester, United StatesSee the site
Trial code
Registry title
Radiotherapy Compared to Corticosteroid Injection for Treatment of Hand Osteoarthritis
Status
Recruiting
Phase
Phase 4
People taking part
165 people, planned
Started
19 Dec 2025
Expected to end
1 Oct 2027
Type of study
Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
Treatments tested
  • Corticosteroid injection (CSI)
  • Low-dose radiotherapy (LDRT)
Record updated
24 April 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for adults aged 50 or older with painful hand or wrist osteoarthritis who are patients at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. It compares low-dose radiotherapy with a corticosteroid injection.

Age
50 years or older
Sex
All sexes
Disease stage
Mild, moderate or severe hand osteoarthritis (Kellgren and Lawrence grade 2, 3 or 4) on hand X-rays from the last 24 months. Hand pain score of ≥40 on a 100-point scale when using the hand.
Earlier treatment
No surgery on the affected hand before. No hand corticosteroid injection or other hand injection in the past 3 months. No hand low-dose radiotherapy in the past 3 months. No opioid pain medicines or steroid pills in the last 3 months.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Autoimmune joint disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis
  • Gout or pseudogout flare in the affected hand, or other active hand condition such as trigger finger or Dupuytren's contracture
  • Hand injury in the last 1 month causing current pain
  • Fibromyalgia or central sensitization syndrome
  • Poorly controlled diabetes (HbA1c > 10% (86 mmol/mol)), active infection, or current pregnancy

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 17 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Patient at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
  • Age 50 years or older
  • Mild, moderate, or severe hand OA (Kellgren and Lawrence classification grade 2, 3, or 4) on hand radiographs within the last 24 months
  • Hand OA pain with a minimum VAS score relating to hand pain of ≥40 (on a 100-point scale) when using the affected hand
  • Ability to complete study questionnaires

Who cannot take part

  • History of previous surgery to the affected hand(s)
  • Active use of opioid pain medication(s) or oral steroids within the last 3 months
  • Autoimmune joint disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis
  • Active confounding hand condition such as stenosing tenosynovitis or Dupuytren's contracture
  • History of crystalline arthritis (gout or pseudogout) flare in the affected hand(s)
  • Fibromyalgia or central sensitization syndrome
  • History of hand LDRT within the past 3 months
  • Active infection
  • Poorly controlled diabetes (HbA1c > 10%)
  • Recent injury (within last 1 month) to the affected hand causing current pain
  • Hand CSI or other hand injection within the past 3 months
  • Current pregnancy

Where in United States

  • Mayo Clinic in RochesterRochester, United StatesContact: Tochukwu Iyke-NzeochaTaking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

The purpose of this research is to compare low-dose radiotherapy to corticosteroid injection for treatment of hand/wrist osteoarthritis.

The 2 groups in the trial

  • Low-dose radiotherapy (LDRT)Treatment being tested

    Subjects will receive a total of six (6) low-dose radiotherapy (LDRT) treatments for hand osteoarthritis.

  • Corticosteroid injection (CSI)Existing treatment, for comparison

    Subjects will receive standard of care corticosteroid injection (CSI) therapy for hand osteoarthritis.

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
Low-Dose Radiotherapy Compared to Corticosteroid Injection for Treatment of Hand Osteoarthritis
Plain-language title
Low-dose radiation versus steroid injection for osteoarthritis of the hand and wristGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 14 November 2026.
Record updated
24 April 2026