Comparison 1. Corticosteroids versus placebo.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Pain ‐ absence of pain	1	49	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.33 [1.03, 1.72]
2 Pain ‐ number of days until pain free	1	49	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐3.58 [‐7.41, 0.25]
3 Number of participants with normal physical joint function ‐ number of days until normal function of the joint	1	49	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐2.07 [‐5.47, 1.33]
4 Number of participants with normal physical joint function ‐ number of days until full range of movement	1	49	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐5.24 [‐10.37, ‐0.11]
5 Number of participants with normal physical joint function ‐ normal function at the end of treatment (short term)	1	100	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.41 [1.16, 1.72]
6 Number of participants with normal physical joint function ‐ normal function at 6 months of follow‐up (medium term)	1	100	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.58 [1.27, 1.97]
7 Number of participants with normal physical joint function ‐ normal function at 12 months of follow‐up (long term)	1	100	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.32 [1.12, 1.57]
8 Number of participants with normal physical joint function ‐ number of days until resolution of symptoms	1	100	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐5.47 [‐6.98, ‐3.96]
9 Number of days of antibiotic treatment ‐ number of days of intravenous antibiotic treatment	2	149	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐2.77 [‐4.16, ‐1.39]
10 Number of days of antibiotic treatment ‐ number of total days of antibiotic treatment	2	149	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐3.11 [‐6.94, 0.73]