Table 1

Characteristics of included studies

Study	Year	Sample size		Male sex, %		Mean age, yr		Design	MPS dose, mg/kg (total duration, h)	Control	Quality, %

		S	C	S	C	S	C
Babalis et al. (43)	2004	47	40	100	100	23	22	QRT	6 (48)	D5W	74

Schonfeld et al. (17)	1983	21	41	76	67	36	33	RCT	90 (72)	D5W	65

Kallenbach et al. (44)	1987	41	42	93	86	24	24	QRT	9 (48)	None	63

Alho et al. (42)	1978	29	31	59	71	37	34	RCT	30 (24)	None	55

Lindeque et al. (45)	1987	27	28	87^*		28^*		RCT	60 (8)	Placebo	50

Stoltenberg and Gustilo (46)	1979	20	23	N/A	N/A	27	31	RCT	3 g^† (24)	None	38

Shier et al. (26)	1977	10	10	N/A	N/A	32	42	RCT	60 (12)	None	24

C = control group; D5W = 5% dextrose solution; MPS = methylprednisolone succinate; N/A = not applicable; QRT = quasi-randomized trial; RCT = randomized controlled trial; S = steroid group.
↵* Calculated for both groups.
↵† Equivalent to 40 for a 75-kg patient.