The purpose of this report is to search, synthesize and summarize evidence describing the clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and evidence-based guidelines addressing laser spine surgery in patients with herniated disc and/or nerve root entrapment.

Contents

• Context and Policy Issues
• Research Questions
• Key Findings
• Methods
  • Literature Search Methods
  • Selection Criteria and Methods
  • Exclusion Criteria
  • Critical Appraisal of Individual Studies
• Summary of Evidence
  • Quantity of Research Available
  • Summary of Study Characteristics
  • Summary of Critical Appraisal
  • Summary of Findings
  • Limitations
• Conclusions and Implications for Decision or Policy Making
• References
• Appendix 1. Selection of Included Studies
• Appendix 2. Characteristics of Included Publications
• Appendix 3. Critical Appraisal of Included Publications
• Appendix 4. Main Study Findings and Authors’ Conclusions
• Appendix 5. Additional References of Potential Interest

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