Diebschlag 1987.

Methods	RCT, DB, parallel groups Duration 15 days Assessment on days 2, 3, 4, 8, 15, 29
Participants	Acute ankle sprain presenting within 48 h Injury severity rated moderate or severe N = 80 M = 63, F = 17 Mean age 27 years (range 18 ‐ 50)
Interventions	Salicylic acid (2%), adrenal extract (1%), mucopolysaccharide polysulphate (0.2%) ointment (Mobilat), n = 40 Placebo ointment, n = 40 10 ‐ 15 cm x 2 daily
Outcomes	Pressure distribution on walking Swelling Ankle joint movement PI at rest: 100 mm VAS PI on movement: 100 mm VAS Adverse events
Notes	Oxford Quality Score: R2, DB2, W1. Total = 5/5 Suprarenal extract results in 0.02% corticosteroids
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	"wurden mittels einer Zufallszahlentabelle mit fortlaufenden Behandlungnummern versehen" [sequence generated by means of a random numbers table]
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	"Die Reihenfolge des Eintritts der Patienten in den Versuch bestimmte die Zuordnung zu der jeweils folgenden Behandlungnummern und damit die Zuordnung zu einem der Vergleichspräparte" [participants were allocated consecutive treatment numbers in order of enrolment into the study]
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	"Das Placebo enthielt die wirkstofffreie Salbengrundlage. Beide Zubereitungen unterscheiden sich nicht nach Aussehen, Geruch und physikalischen Eigenschaften" [The placebo contained the drug‐free ointment base. The preparations were identical in appearance, odour and physical properties]
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	All participants completed study
Size	High risk	< 50 participants per treatment arm