IM corticosteroid versus placebo
Pre-operative
One study investigated the effects of IM betamethasone, 12 mg in 2 ml (n=24), versus placebo (n=18), administered 30 minutes prior to open (Milligan-Morgan) haemorrhoidectomy surgery (Aasboe 1998); LoE 1)
IM corticosteroid versus conventional oral NSAID
Pre-operative
In one study, IM betamethasone, 12 mg administered 30 minutes prior to surgery, was compared with oral diclofenac, 200 mg per day (4 x 50 mg/day) administered after surgery (n=20/group), in patients undergoing closed Ferguson-type haemorrhoidectomy (Kisli 2005); LoE 2)]