Topical treatment of acute sprains.

In a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study with parallel group comparison, the efficacy and tolerability of topical treatment with a mucopolysaccharide polysulphate/salicylic acid cream was investigated in 156 patients with acute sprains of the knee or ankle joint. There was a more rapid reduction in pain on movement (the main parameter) in the active drug group compared with the placebo group. On day 9 after randomisation the difference was highly significant. There were no adverse events in the active drug group.