The international surgical journal with global reach

This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

Effect of intravenous corticosteroids on death within 14 days in 10 008 adults with clinically significant head injury (MRC CRASH trial): randomised placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 2004; 364: 1321-1328.

Published: 1st January 2004

Authors: CRASH trial collaborators

Conclusion

The risk of death within two weeks was higher after steroid treatment (21.1 per cent) than placebo (17.9 per cent), relative risk 1.18, 95 per cent confidence interval 1.09 to 1.27, p=0.0001). The result was not affected by injury severity or time after injury.

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