Table 1 Summary of the included prospective studies.

Rompe 2009 [69]

RCT (229)

GTPS

Prednisolon 25 mg/meaverin 0.5% (75)

In method section: adverse effects were recorded by the physician Results: summarised in a table

Minor: increased or radiating pain: 44%, skin irritation 3%, swelling 9%

92% after 15 months

Gunter 2004 [70]

RCT (18)

Iliotibial band friction syndrome

Methylprednisolone acetate 40 mg/lignocaine 1% (9)

In method section: side effects/adverse reactions: are reported in both intervention groups as a separate issue Results: mentioned as a separate issue

No side-effects after 7 and 14 days

100% at 2 weeks

Chao 2009 [71]

RCT (97)

Trigger thumb

Triamcenolon 10 mg (42)

In method section: no information Results: mentioned in a sentence

Minor: 2.2% had pain after 1 month

100% after 12 months

Peters 2008 [72]

RCT (50)

Trigger finger

Triamcinolone acetonide: 10, 1 or 2 injections (41)

In method section: adverse event as secondary outcome Results: mentioned as a separate issue

Minor: hot flushes 22%, steroid-flare 14.6%

82% after 12 months follow-up

Jianmongkol 2007 [73]

RCT (101)

Trigger finger, 2 types of injection therapy were compared (48/53)

Triamcinolone 10 mg/lidocaine (101)

In method section: no information Results: reported in one sentence

No complications

Follow-up 6 weeks (% lost to follow-up not mentioned)

Goldfarb 2007 [74]

RCT (154)

Trigger finger or De Quervain's tenosynovitis

Methylprednisolone acetate 40 mg/lidocaine 1%/bupivacaine 0.5% (154)

In method section: incidence of post injection pain flare was the aim of the study, no other complications are monitored Results: flare reaction mentioned as a separate issue

Minor: in 33% increase in pain score of 2 points or more (VAS scale 0-10).

81% follow-up after 1 and 6 weeks

Baumgarten 2007 [75]

RCT (59)

Trigger finger in diabetics versus non diabetics

Betamethasone 6 mg/lidocaine 1% (44)

In method section: in follow-up section: complications related to treatment were reported Results: complications reported as a separate issue

No adverse events at 6 weeks, 3 months and 1 year

98% follow-up at 12 month (range 13-41 months)

Kazuki 2006 [76]

Pros (100)

Trigger finger

Betamethasone 2.5 mg/lidocaine 1% (129 fingers)

In method section: not mentioned. Results: one sentence: no complications of steroid injections were observed

No complications after 6 months

100% follow-up after 6 months (range 1-42)

Gurcay 2009 [77]

RCT (36)

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Betamethasone 6 mg (18)

In method section: not mentioned Results: no complications or side effects to treatment were observed

No side effects

100% follow-up after 3 months

Nalamachu 2006 [78]

RCT (40)

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Methylprednisolone 40 mg/lidocaine 1% (20)

In method section: adverse events were classified according to MedDRA and the incidence of treatment emergent events was summarized Results: adverse events were described

Minor: numbness (5%), local pain (5%), tingling in hands at 4 weeks (5%)

85% follow-up after 4 weeks

Dammers 2005 [79]

RCT (132)

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Methylprednisolone 20 mg (45), 40 mg (43), 60 mg (44) with lidocaine 10 mg

In method section: not mentioned Results: no side effects were recorded

No side-effects after 1 and 12 months

97% follow-up after 12 months

Hui 2005 [60]

RCT (50)

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Methylprednisolon 15 mg (25)

In method section: surgical complications are assessed after one week, no other adverse events mentioned. Results: one patient with cellulitis is reported and four patients with pain at the injection side

Minor: pain at injection side 16% Major: cellulitis 4%

100% at 6 and 20 weeks

Wong 2005 [80]

RCT (40)

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Methylprednisolone 15 mg single dose (20) or double dose (20)

In method section: any side effects were recorded at 8, 24 and 40 weeks Results: reported as a sentence at the end of the result section

Minor: local pain (30% in 20 mg group and 10% in 20 mg group)

100% follow-up at 8 weeks

Agarwal 2005 [81]

Pros (48)

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Methylprednisolone acetate 40 mg/xylocaine 2% (67 hands)

In method section: not mentioned Results: at the end of the result section adverse effects were mentioned

Minor: mild discoloration of the skin over the injection site (6%)

100% follow-up after 3 months, 78% after 12 months

Ly-Pen 2005 [82]

RCT (163)

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Paramethasone acetonide 20 mg (82, 69 wrists required second injection)

In method section: not mentioned Results: safety and tolerability was a separate chapter

No relevant side-effects

79.5% follow-up at 12 months

Sevim 2004 [83]

RCT (120)

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Betamethasone 6 mg. (60)

In method section: not mentioned Results: complications and side effects are described

Minor: moderate pain lasting less than 24 hours after injection (3.4%), haematoma (1.7%)

90% follow-up at 11 months follow-up (range 9 to 14 months)

Armstrong 2004 [84]

RCT (81)

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Betamethasone 6 mg/lidocaine 1% (43 with a total of 364 injections)

In method section: side effects and complications are recorded Results: adverse effects described

Minor: severe pain after injection (5%), acute transient sympathetic reaction after injection (2%)

89% follow-up after 18 months

Wong 2001 [85]

RCT (62)

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Methylprednisolone 15 mg (30)

In method section: any side effects were recorded by telephone interview Results: summarized in a table

Minor: injection pain (6.7%)

100% after 12 weeks

Kalaci 2009 [64]

RCT (100)

Plantar fasciitis

Triamcinolone 20 mg (50)

In method section: not mentioned Results: description of the side effects not found

No side effects or complications All of the patients found the injection painful

100% after 6 months

Porter 2005 [86]

RCT (132)

Plantar fasciopathy

Betamethason 5.7 mg/lignocaine 1% (64)

In method section: patients were asked to report any possible side effects at 3 and 12 months Results: no infections or rupture are found, description of the side effects

Minor: post-injection pain (12.5%) that required analgesia and/or ice application

95% follow-up at 12 months

Genc 2005 [87]

Pros (30)

Plantar fasciitis

Methylprednisolone 20 mg/prolocaine 2% (47 heels)

In method section: ultrasonografy measurement of the facia at 1 and 6 months Results: reported as one sentence

No rupture observed

100% follow-up at 6 months

Lindenhovius 2008 [88]

RCT (64)

Lateral elbow pain

Dexamethasone 4 mg/lidocaine 1% (31)

In method section: not mentioned Results: adverse events are described

Minor: discoloration of skin 3.2% increased elbow pain 3.2%

77% after 1 and 6 months

Tonks 2007 [53]

RCT (48)

Epicondylitis lateralis

Triamcinolone acetonide 10 mg/lignocaine 2% (24)

In method section: complications of treatment were one of the outcome measurements Result section: complications are described

Major: skin depigmentation and atrophy in 4% after 7 weeks

77% follow-up at 7 weeks

Bisset 2006 [54]

RCT (198)

Tennis elbow

Triamcinolone 10 mg/lidocaine 1% (65)

In method section: not mentioned Results: side effects were mentioned in a separate section

Minor: pain (18.5%). Major: loss of skin pigment (3%), atrophy of subcutaneous tissue (1.5%)

100% follow-up in injection group at 12 months

Wang 2003 [89]

Pros (94)

Hand and elbow injections

Betamethasone/lidocaine 1%

In method section: registration of pain levels after injection of corticosteroid to hand and elbow was the aim of the study, no other side effects were recorded Results: post injection pain is shown in table and list

Minor: 50% increased post-injection pain during 1.2 days

71% follow-up at 5 days

Smidt 2002 [90]

RCT (185)

Epicondylitis lateralis

Triamcinolone acetonide 10 mg/lidocaine (62)

In method section: details of any adverse effects were reported on standardised forms Results: adverse effects summarized in a table

Minor: facial flush (3%), skin irritation (5%), red swollen elbow (3%), change of skin colour (11%), other not specified side-effects (13%)

96% follow-up at 52 weeks

Jensen 2001 [91]

RCT (30)

Tennis elbow

Methylprednisolone 20 mg/lidocaine 1% (16)

In method section: daily pain registration for six weeks Results: described in result section

Minor: pain increase after injection (81%)

100% follow-up 6 weeks

Hay 1999 [57]

RCT (164)

Tennis elbow

Methylprednisolone 20 mg/lignocaine (51)

In method section: complications of treatment is one of the secondary outcome Results: described in a separate section side effects

Major: local skin atrophy in the overall group (3 of 111), one with steroids (1.9%)

100% follow-up at 12 months

Stahl 1997 [92]

RCT (58)

Medial epicondylitis

Methylprednisolone 40 mg/lidocaine (30)

In method section: interviews and physical examination for possible local complications Results: complications are reported in a separate part

Major: non reported Minor: facial flushing in one female patient

100%follow-up 12 months

Verhaar 1995 [93]

RCT (106)

Tennis elbow

Triamcinolone 1% (53)

In method section: side effects not specified Results: no infection or skin hypopigmentation

No side effects in the injection group

100% follow up after 12 months

Price 1991 [58]

RCT (145)

Tennis elbow

Triamcinolone 10 mg/lignocaine 1% or Hydrocortisone 25 mg/lignocaine 1% compared with lignocaine 1% or with Triamcinolone 20 mg. Second study Triamcinolone 10 mg versus 20 mg

In method section: severe post-injection pain and skin atrophy were noted Results: table with the adverse effects

Minor: post-injection pain (11%-58%). Major: skin atrophy (17%-40%)

Follow-up at 24 weeks (% lost to follow-up not clear)

Jirarattanaphochai 2004 [55]

RCT (160)

De Quervain's tenosynovitis

Triamcinolone acetonide 10 mg (100)

In method section: the adverse events reported at 3 weeks, 6 and 12 months are secondary outcome measurements Results: adverse effects are mentioned in a table

Minor: post-injection pain (13%), subcutaneous nodule (2.5%), ecchymosis (1.3%). Major: skin hypopigmentation (1.3%)

100% follow-up, 3% lost between 6 and 12 months

Avci 2002 [94]

CT (19)

Pregnant or lactating women with De Quervain's tenosynovitis

Methylprednisolone 10 mg (10)

In method section: not mentioned Result section: not specified

No side effects or local complications of corticosteroid injection were noted

100% follow (range 9-17 months)

Anderson 1991[95]

Pros (56)

De Quervain tenosynovitis

Methylprednisolone acetate 40 mg

In method section: adverse reaction were recorded, particularly signs of atrophy Result: adverse reactions are summarised in a table

Minor; pain 18%, pain, swelling, heat 5% ecchymosis 9% temporary radial nerve paresthesia 2% vasovagal reaction 2% Major: subcutaneous fat atrophy 16%

95% follow-up at 4.2 years

Crawford 1999 [96]

RCT (106)

Heel pain

Methylprednisolone 25 mg (53)

In methods and results sections: not mentioned

No side-effects reported

52% follow-up after 6 months

Capasso 1997 [97]

RCT (116)

Patellar tendopathy

Methylprednisolone 40 mg/lignocaine (39)

In method section: not mentioned Results: acceptability of treatment is separately discussed in a chapter

Minor: burning sensation (10.3%) injection pain (5.1%)

82% follow-up after 12 months

Mens 1998 [59]

Pros (77 ♀)

Musculo-skeletal disease

Triamcinolone acetate intra-articular (46) and extra-articular (24)

Method section: patients were asked to report appearance of flushing and any abnormality of the menstrual pattern Results: shown in a table

Disturbance in menstruation at 6 weeks (50.6%), flushes (28.6%)

100% follow-up after 6 weeks