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Search review questions

Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.

Limit to evidence status or GRADE (optional)

767 questions in 53 reviews · Back and Neck

current versions
No studies 149 · 19.4%Ungraded 41 · 5.3%Very low 168 · 21.9%Low 226 · 29.5%Moderate 156 · 20.3%High 27 · 3.5%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

QuestionEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS FOR FUSION vs INTERSPINOUS SPACERS
Operation time Duration of operation reported in minutes · patients with lumbar spinal stenosis
Surgical options for lumbar spinal stenosis (2016) · Cochrane
Mean difference 78.91 [30.16, 127.65]2 studies · 381 participantsVery low
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS FOR FUSION vs INTERSPINOUS SPACERS
Blood loss Amount of perioperative blood loss reported in mL · patients with lumbar spinal stenosis
Surgical options for lumbar spinal stenosis (2016) · Cochrane
Mean difference 238.9 [182.66, 295.14]1 study · 320 participantsModerate
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS FOR FUSION vs INTERSPINOUS SPACERS
Reoperations Number of patients requiring a revision surgery · patients with lumbar spinal stenosis
Surgical options for lumbar spinal stenosis (2016) · Cochrane
Risk ratio 0.7 [0.32, 1.51]1 study · 322 participantsHigh
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS FOR DECOMPRESSION vs FUSION
Disability Long‐term (≥ 12 months) Disability scores converted to 0 to 100 scale to allow for comparison of different disability scales (RMDQ, ODI, JOA) · patients with lumbar spinal stenosis
Surgical options for lumbar spinal stenosis (2016) · Cochrane
Mean difference 3.263 studies · 335 participantsVery low
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS FOR DECOMPRESSION vs FUSION
Operation time Duration of operation reported in minutes · patients with lumbar spinal stenosis
Surgical options for lumbar spinal stenosis (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 381 participantsVery low
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS FOR DECOMPRESSION vs FUSION
Blood loss Amount of perioperative blood loss reported in L · patients with lumbar spinal stenosis
Surgical options for lumbar spinal stenosis (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 383 participantsVery low
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS FOR DECOMPRESSION vs FUSION
Reoperations Number of patients requiring a revision surgery · patients with lumbar spinal stenosis
Surgical options for lumbar spinal stenosis (2016) · Cochrane
Risk ratio 1.25 [0.81, 1.92]5 studies · 443 participantsModerate
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS FOR DECOMPRESSION vs INTERSPINOUS SPACERS
Pain Long‐term (≥ 12 months) Pain scores converted to 0 to 100 scale to allow for comparison of different disability scales (VAS, NRS) · patients with lumbar spinal stenosis
Surgical options for lumbar spinal stenosis (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 328 participantsModerate
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS FOR DECOMPRESSION vs INTERSPINOUS SPACERS
Disability Long‐term (≥ 12 months) Disability scores converted to 0 to 100 scale to allow for comparison of different disability scales (RMDQ, ODI, JOA) · patients with lumbar spinal stenosis
Surgical options for lumbar spinal stenosis (2016) · Cochrane
Mean difference 1.253 studies · 327 participantsLow
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS FOR DECOMPRESSION vs INTERSPINOUS SPACERS
Operation time Duration of operation reported in minutes · patients with lumbar spinal stenosis
Surgical options for lumbar spinal stenosis (2016) · Cochrane
Mean difference 39.11 [19.43, 58.78]3 studies · 340 participantsLow
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS FOR DECOMPRESSION vs INTERSPINOUS SPACERS
Blood loss Amount of perioperative blood loss reported in mL · patients with lumbar spinal stenosis
Surgical options for lumbar spinal stenosis (2016) · Cochrane
Mean difference 1441 study · 81 participantsLow
Massage vs inactive controls
Pain intensity (higher scores mean more pain) ‐ Short‐term · patients with LBP
Massage for low‐back pain (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted7 studies · 761 participantsLow
Massage vs active controls
Adverse events Self‐reported · patients with LBP
Massage for low‐back pain (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 585 participantsVery low
Massage vs inactive controls
Pain intensity (higher scores mean more pain) ‐ Long‐term · patients with LBP
Massage for low‐back pain (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 615 participantsVery low
Massage vs inactive controls
Function (higher scores mean more disability) ‐ Short‐term · patients with LBP
Massage for low‐back pain (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted6 studies · 725 participantsLow
Massage vs inactive controls
Function (higher scores mean more disability) ‐ Long‐term · patients with LBP
Massage for low‐back pain (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 615 participantsVery low
Massage vs inactive controls
Adverse events Self‐reported · patients with LBP
Massage for low‐back pain (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 624 participantsVery low
Massage vs active controls
Pain intensity (higher scores mean more pain) ‐ Short‐term · patients with LBP
Massage for low‐back pain (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted12 studies · 964 participantsVery low
Massage vs active controls
Pain intensity (higher scores mean more pain) ‐ Long‐term · patients with LBP
Massage for low‐back pain (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 757 participantsVery low
Massage vs active controls
Function (higher scores mean more disability) ‐ Short‐term · patients with LBP
Massage for low‐back pain (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted6 studies · 618 participantsVery low
Massage vs active controls
Function (higher scores mean more disability) ‐ Long‐term · patients with LBP
Massage for low‐back pain (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 616 participantsVery low
Manipulation (cervical) vs oral medicine
PAIN · patients with acute and subacute neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Manipulation (thoracic) vs inactive control
FUNCTION · patients with acute, subacute and chronic neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Manipulation (thoracic) vs inactive control
Chronic neck pain Short‐term · patients with acute, subacute and chronic neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 111 participantsLow
Manipulation (thoracic) vs inactive control
QUALITY OF LIFE (QoL) · patients with acute, subacute and chronic neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Manipulation vs mobilisation
PAIN · patients with acute, subacute and chronic neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Manipulation vs mobilisation
Acute, subacute and chronic neck pain Intermediate‐term · patients with acute, subacute and chronic neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 446 participantsModerate
Manipulation vs mobilisation
FUNCTION AND DISABILITY · patients with acute, subacute and chronic neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Manipulation vs mobilisation
Acute and subacute neck pain Short‐term · patients with acute, subacute and chronic neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 176 participantsModerate
Manipulation vs mobilisation
PARTICIPANT SATISFACTION · patients with acute, subacute and chronic neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Manipulation vs mobilisation
Subacute and chronic neck pain Short‐term · patients with acute, subacute and chronic neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 269 participantsModerate
Manipulation vs mobilisation
GLOBAL PERCEIVED EFFECT · patients with acute, subacute and chronic neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Manipulation (cervical) vs oral medicine
Acute and subacute neck pain Intermediate‐term · patients with acute and subacute neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 182 participantsModerate
Manipulation vs mobilisation
Acute and subacute neck pain Intermediate‐term · patients with acute, subacute and chronic neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 177 participantsModerate
Manipulation vs mobilisation
QUALITY OF LIFE · patients with acute, subacute and chronic neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Manipulation vs exercise
PAIN · patients with acute and subacute neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Manipulation vs exercise
Acute and subacute neck pain Intermediate‐term · patients with acute and subacute neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 182 participantsModerate
Manipulation vs exercise
Acute and subacute neck pain Long‐term · patients with acute and subacute neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
SMD 0.061 study · 182 participantsModerate
Manipulation vs exercise
FUNCTION · patients with acute and subacute neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Manipulation vs exercise
PARTICIPANT SATISFACTION · patients with acute and subacute neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Manipulation vs exercise
GLOBAL PERCEIVED EFFECT · patients with acute and subacute neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Manipulation vs exercise
Acute and subacute neck pain Immediate post‐treatment · patients with acute and subacute neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 182 participantsModerate
Manipulation vs exercise
QUALITY OF LIFE · patients with acute and subacute neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Manipulation (cervical) vs oral medicine
Acute and subacute neck pain Long‐term · patients with acute and subacute neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 181 participantsModerate
Manipulation vs exercise
aIndirectness: ‐1. · patients with acute and subacute neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 participantsUngraded
High dose of manipulation vs low dose of manipulation
PAIN · patients with chronic neck pain with cervicogenic headache (CGH)
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
High dose of manipulation vs low dose of manipulation
Chronic neck pain and CGH Intermediate‐term · patients with chronic neck pain with cervicogenic headache (CGH)
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 50 participantsModerate
High dose of manipulation vs low dose of manipulation
FUNCTION · patients with chronic neck pain with cervicogenic headache (CGH)
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
High dose of manipulation vs low dose of manipulation
aImprecision: ‐1. · patients with chronic neck pain with cervicogenic headache (CGH)
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 participantsUngraded
Manipulation (cervical) vs oral medicine
FUNCTION · patients with acute and subacute neck pain
Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies