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National Guideline Centre (UK). Low Back Pain and Sciatica in Over 16s: Assessment and Management. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); 2016 Nov. (NICE Guideline, No. 59.)

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  • Guideline updates: December 2020: in the recommendation on stopping opioid analgesics NICE added links to other NICE guidelines and resources that support discussion with patients about opioid prescribing and safe withdrawal management. September 2020: NICE's original guidance on low back pain and sciatica in over 16s was published in 2016. It was partially updated in September 2020. See the NICE website for the guideline recommendations and the evidence review for the 2020 update. This document preserves evidence reviews and committee discussions for areas of the guideline that were not updated in 2020.

Guideline updates: December 2020: in the recommendation on stopping opioid analgesics NICE added links to other NICE guidelines and resources that support discussion with patients about opioid prescribing and safe withdrawal management. September 2020: NICE's original guidance on low back pain and sciatica in over 16s was published in 2016. It was partially updated in September 2020. See the NICE website for the guideline recommendations and the evidence review for the 2020 update. This document preserves evidence reviews and committee discussions for areas of the guideline that were not updated in 2020.

Cover of Low Back Pain and Sciatica in Over 16s: Assessment and Management

Low Back Pain and Sciatica in Over 16s: Assessment and Management.

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Appendix LExcluded clinical studies

L.1. Clinical examination

Table 1Studies excluded from clinical review

StudyExclusion reason
Al nezari 201373Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Ash 2008145Non sciatica population. Mixed population of people with low back pain with or without sciatica (with sciatica: 58%). Incorrect interventions. Unclear if clinical examination results given in addition to imaging
Cook 2011474Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Ganesh 2015748Incorrect interventions. Evaluation of a training programme
Modic 20051540Inappropriate comparison. Incorrect interventions
Rebain 20021835Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Van der windt 20082198Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Van der windt 20102199Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Vroomen 19992261Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Vroomen 20022262Incorrect study design
Wojtysiak 20142345Incorrect study design. Not review population. Inappropriate comparison. Non randomised study. Control group of healthy volounteer. Comparison of clinical evaluation pre- and post-operatively for the evaluation of surgical treatment
Yu 20122388Incorrect interventions. Provocative discography

L.2. Risk assessment tools and stratification

Table 2Studies excluded from the clinical review

ReferenceReason for exclusion
Aebischer 201556Wrong study design: cross-sectional not cohort study
Barnes 1989181No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Beneciuk 2015209Incorrect study design: cross-sectional study
Bergstrom 2014219Population does not match protocol
Betten 2015233No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Borys 2015 276Does not match review question
Bruyere 2012320No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Bruyere 2014319No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Carragee 2005361Incorrect study design
Chapman 1994387No relevant comparator
Childs 2003A411Population does not match protocol
Childs 2014413Incorrect study design: letter
Childs 2015414Incorrect population: no stratification
Cleland 2009453No relevant comparator
Cuestavargas 2014B499Wrong population (mixed musculoskeletal)
Cunningham 2009500Incorrect study design: survey review
Cunningham 2013501No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Dankaert 2006A517No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Dankaerts 2009518No relevant comparator
Delitto 1993543No relevant comparator
Delitto 1995544Incorrect study design: clinical perspective review
Derby 2008554No relevant comparator
Dougherty 2014593No relevant comparator :clinical prediction rule for responsiveness to manual therapy in which comparator group get different treatment
Downie 2013594systematic review- used as reference list
Dunstan 2005601Population does not match protocol
Elgueta-cancino 2015 623Test not meet protocol criteria
Fersum 2011666Systematic review- used as reference list
Field 2012667No relevant comparator
Foster 2013683Incorrect study design: narrative review
Freynhagen 2006699No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Fritz 2000711No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Fritz 2002714No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Fritz 2005709No relevant comparator
Fritz 2007713Incorrect study design: clinical commentary
Fritz 2010716Incorrect study design: study protocol
Fritz 2011A712No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Frymoyer 1992729Incorrect study design
Gabel 2012740Population does not match protocol
Gabel 2013739Population does not match protocol
Gatchell 1986753Population does not match protocol; no relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Gatchell 1995755No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Gatchell 1995A754No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Gatchel 2003756no relevant comparator
George 2005A772No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
George 2015770No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
George 2015A771Wrong population (mixed neck, shoulder, back, musculoskeletal)
Gisla 2015797Literature review
Grimmersomers 2008835No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Grotle 2006 838No relevant outcomes
Grovle 2008840No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Hagg 2002871Incorrect study design
Hakkinen 2003878No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Hallegraeff 2009887Incorrect study design
Hancock 2008893Non-validated tool
Hancock 2008B892Incorrect study design
Hancock 2009A895No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Hancock 2010894Incorrect study design: letter to editor
Haskins 2015910Systematic review used as source of references
Hay 2008916Incorrect study design: study protocol
Hayashi 2015917Does not match review question
Hazard 1991919No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Hebert 2008925Incorrect study design
Hicks 2003956Incorrect target condition
Hendler 1988936No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Hicks 2005955No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Hill 2010962incorrect study design: narrative review
Hill 2010961incorrect study design: cross-sectional survey
Hurley 2001 996No relevant outcomes
Janwantanakul 20151050Incorrect population
Kamper 20101104Incorrect study design: narrative review
Karstens 20151115No relevant outcomes, does not match review question
Kent 20151139Unable to obtain article
Kim 2012A1154Survey data. Does not answer the question (looks at predicting disc herniation)
Kongsted 20111215Incorrect study design
Lacasse 20151255Incorrect population: Includes non-LBP pain
Lacroix 19901256No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Law 20131270No relevant outcomes and does not match review protocol
Linton 20031344Population does not match protocol
Mehling 2015 1511Risk tool not validated
Mehling 2015A1513Risk tool not validated
Millard 19891527No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Morso 20111574No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Newell 20151625Unable to obtain article
O'Sullivan 20141659Incorrect study design
Nonclerq 20121642No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Polatin 19971778No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Pollock 20121779No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Pulliam 20011793No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Rabey 20151805Incorrect study design cross-sectional study
Riley 19981853No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Sattelmayer 20121924Incorrect study design
Talo 19942103No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Traeger 20152148Protocol for research of a new tool
Takekawa 20152101Incorrect population: identifying a subset of people without LBP
Trudellejackson 20082158No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Turk 20152168No relevant outcomes
Vendrig 19992224No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Vibe fersum 20092232No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Vroomen 1999A2261No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Watkins 19862290No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Wideman 20122315No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Wilson 19992340No relevant outcomes and does not match review question
Yamada 20152363Incorrect comparison

L.3. Imaging

Table 3Studies excluded from the clinical review

StudyExclusion reason
Abrishamkar 200646Inappropriate comparison. Incorrect study design (cross sectional study)
Ackerman 199747Inappropriate comparison
Andersen 2011108Incorrect study design. Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Ash 2008145Incorrect interventions
Atalay 2001151Incorrect study design (cross sectional study). Incorrect interventions
Bajpai 2013170Incorrect interventions. Incorrect study design (cross sectional study)
Chou 2009434Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear. Incorrect study design
Chou 2011426Incorrect study design. Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO. Inappropriate comparison. Incorrect interventions
El barzouhi 2013618People referred for surgery (already planned)
El barzouhi 2013619Post-operative imaging. Incorrect interventions
Eley 2006622Incorrect interventions. Incorrect study design (cross sectional study)
Graves 2012824No relevant outcomes
Grover 2003839Narrative review
Haig 2006874Incorrect study design. Incorrect interventions. Inappropriate comparison
Haldeman 1988879Incorrect study design. Incorrect interventions. Inappropriate comparison
Indahl 19951015Inappropriate comparison. Incorrect interventions
Jarvik 19961053Incorrect interventions
Jarvik 19971055Incorrect interventions
Jarvik 20031054Incorrect interventions
Jenkins 20151064Incorrect study design. Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO. Incorrect interventions
Jensen 20101067Incorrect study design
Raastad 20151802Incorrect study design. Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO. Incorrect interventions
Rankine 19981818Incorrect study design
Rockey 19781863Not review population. Not guideline condition
Van rijn 20122202Incorrect study design. Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Wassenaar 20122287Incorrect study design. Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Weiner 19992301Incorrect interventions. Incorrect study design (cross sectional study)
Wilson 20012339Incorrect study design

L.4. Self-management

Table 4Studies excluded from the clinical review

StudyExclusion reason
Abbasi 201237Incorrect interventions
Abdel shaheed 201439Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Albaladejo 201082Incorrect interventions
Allen 199994Not review population. Not guideline condition. Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Anon 19912Incorrect study design
Anon 200519Abstract only
Anon 200518Incorrect study design
Anon 200515Abstract only
Anon 200623Abstract only
Anon 201231Conference abstract
Anon 201229Abstract only
Basson 2011192Incorrect study design
Bekkering 2005198Incorrect interventions. Not review population
Ben salah frih 2009203Incorrect interventions
Berwick 1989231Incorrect interventions
Boden 2003258Comment on an RCT
Bronfort 2004295Inappropriate comparison. Pilot study of feasibility of recruitment to RCT; no comparison between groups
Brown 1992306Incorrect interventions
Brox 2008311Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Brox 2008314Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Burton 1999330Incorrect interventions
Busanich 2006331Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Bush 1993333Incorrect interventions. Not guideline condition. Intervention on physicians dealing with patients with low back pain
Cecchi 2010373Incorrect interventions
Cecchi 2012372Incorrect interventions
Chang 1994380Incorrect study design
Chapman 1997384Incorrect study design
Chen 2012396Not in English
Cherkin 1991403Not review population. Not guideline condition
Cherkin 1996407Unable to obtain
Cherkin 1996-1405Duplicate of 1996B
Cherkin 2000401Abstract only
Childs 2011415Incorrect interventions
Chou 2007436Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Chou 2010431Systematic review - used as source of references
Clare 2004449Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Cohen 1994459Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Cooper 2013478Incorrect study design
Cuesta-vargas 2012496Incorrect interventions. Both group had self-management education
Dagenais 2010504Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Dahm 2010510Cochrane review - used as source of references
Damush 2002512Incorrect interventions
Damush 2003514Incorrect interventions
Damush 2003513Incorrect interventions
Dayer-berenson 2011529Thesis
De bruijn 2007530Not guideline condition
Dehlin 1981538Not guideline condition. Low back insufficiency, not low back pain
Demoulin 2006547Incorrect interventions
Demoulin 2012548Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Deutscher 2014560Cohort study. Got sufficient RCT data. Wrong intervention: education for physiotherapists, not the pts
Deyo 1986562Incorrect interventions
Deyo 1987563Incorrect interventions
Di fabio 1995569Incorrect interventions
Doherty 2004582Abstract only
Doran 2014590Unable to get hold of article
Du 2011597Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Dupeyron 2011602Systematic review: study designs inappropriate. Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Engers 2008625Cochrane review - used as source of references
Evans 1996640Thesis
Evans 2009638Thesis chapter
Evans 2010639Not guideline condition
Fernandez 2015655Systematic review: study designs inappropriate. Systematic review used as source of references
Ferrell 1997664Not review population
Fersum 2010665Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Fitzpatrick 1995674Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Fritz 1998706Thesis chapter
Frost 2004727Incorrect interventions
Furlan 2002733Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
George 2009773Incorrect interventions
Goffar 2005810Thesis
Grunnesjo 2004843Incorrect interventions
Gundewall 1993847Not guideline condition. Mixed group of healthy volunteers and people with low back pain
Haas 1999855Abstract only
Hagen 2000865Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Hagen 2002866Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Hagen 2005867Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Hagen 2010868Withdrawn
Harman 2011904Incorrect interventions
Henrotin 2006939Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Hilde 2006959Withdrawn
Hofstee 2002979Incorrect interventions
Jensen 20121070Incorrect interventions. Not review population
Kellett 19911134Not guideline condition. “back pain” not just low back pain
Kilpikoski 20091152Incorrect interventions
Kim 19991169Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Kinkade 20071179Incorrect study design
Koes 19941202Incorrect study design
Koes 20081195Commentary not primary study (1ry study = Pengel 2007)
Kogure 20151204Mixed chronic pain (not just low back pain). Not guideline condition. “Low back pain localized from 12th rib to inferior gluteal fold”
Kotoulas 20021225Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear. Incorrect study design
Kovacs 20071228Inappropriate comparison
Lee 20151287Unable to obtain article
Levin 19961309Incorrect study design
Liddle 20071326Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Linton 19971341Not guideline condition. Not all patients had back pain
Little 20011348Not review population
Lonn 19991365Incorrect interventions
Maher 19991403Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
May 20101484Not guideline condition
Miller 20091529Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear. Not guideline condition
Moffett 20021542Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Morrison 19881573Inappropriate study design. All patients undergo intervention.
Newton 19951626Abstract only
Ney 20081628Narrative review
Nicholas 20131633Incorrect interventions
Nilsson-wikmar 20051638Not guideline condition
Noone 19961643Unable to obtain article
Odeen 20131660Incorrect interventions
Olaya-contreras 20151675Inappropriate comparison. Intraclass comparison
Oliveira 20121677Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Otoo 20151687SR - used as source of references
Palacin-marin 20131698Crossover study
Pensri 20121745Crossover study
Pesco 20061754Not guideline condition. Wrong population: neck and shoulder pain
Postacchini 1988-11785Incorrect interventions. (Back school)
Postacchini 1988-21785Incorrect interventions. (Back school)
Postacchini 1988-21785Incorrect interventions. (Back school)
Postacchini 1988-21785Incorrect interventions. (Back school)
Postacchini 1988-21785Incorrect interventions. (Back school)
Postacchini 1988-21785Incorrect interventions. (Back school)
Rantonen 20141821Incorrect interventions
Reeser 20021836Conference abstract
Rivero-arias 20061857The intervention not meeting the protocol physio (joint mobilisation, manipulations,. Soft tissue techniques,, exercise programmes, heat/cold treatments, advice - but states that physios chose from a selection so excluded as per protocol) VS advice to stay active from physio - physio arm is excluded therefore study has no relevant comparisons
Roberts 20021859Not guideline condition. Low back pain defined as referred from 12th rib to inferior gluteal fold
Rozenberg 20021880Narrative review
Ryan 20101891Combined interventions. Included in combination treatment review.
Saper 20141915protocol only, no results
Saunders 20001926Incorrect study design
Schectman 20031932Not review population. Not guideline condition
Schenk 19961934Not guideline condition. Not review population. Healthy volunteers, not people with back pain
Schoo 20031948Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Schulz 20071955Incorrect study design. Not randomised
Schulz 20111954Protocol only
Selkowitz 20061966Not review population
Sherman 20111984Included in exercise review
Sorensen 20102045Loss of randomisation. Patients in exercise arm were split into 2 groups after randomised, to receive different exercise interventions, depending on whether they met specific diagnostic criteria or not.
Spinhoven 19892052Inappropriate comparison
Stevenson 20062073Not review population
Stevermer 19992074Narrative review
Strong 20062082Health Economic study. Subpopulation not meeting protocol because population is unclear. The RCTs are already excluded from the clinical review.
Taylor 19962114Not review population
Thomas 20102125Dissertation
Udermann 20042177Incorrect study design
Verbeek 20112225Cochrane review - used as source of references
Vidal 20142238Incorrect age group
Von korff 19982254Incorrect interventions. Both groups received self-management education
Waddell 19972263Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Waddell 19982264Narrative review
Walsh 20132274Not guideline condition
Wand 20042277Wrong intervention/comparison: early vs. delayed treatment
Waterschoot 20142288Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Webb 19822292Incorrect study design
Werner 20102306Study design/protocol only, not results
Yildirim 20072379Not guideline condition
Yildirim 20102380Inappropriate comparison
Zahari 20142392Incorrect interventions

L.5. Exercise therapies

Table 5Studies excluded from the clinical review

StudyExclusion reason
Aboagye 201543Data not interpretable (data overall for both doses not given)
Adamczyk 200950Inappropriate comparison
Agnihotri 201561Incorrect study design. Conference abstract
Ahlqwist 200865Inappropriate comparison
Ahmed 201466Incorrect interventions
Aladro-gonzalvo 201376Systematic review: quality assessment is inadequate
Alayat 201481Incorrect interventions
Albaladejo 201082Incorrect interventions
Albert 201285Incorrect interventions
Aleksiev 201486Incorrect interventions
Alexandre 200187Not possible to obtain results
Ali 200290Unavailable
Ali 200691Unavailable
Allison 201297Unavailable
Alp 201199Abstract only
Anderson 2005114Incorrect study design
Anderson 2006115Abstract only
Andrusaitis 2011124Inappropriate comparison
Anema 2007126Incorrect interventions
Ann 20121794Duplicate of Sherman 2011
Anon 19912Incorrect study design
Anon 200518Incorrect study design
Anon 200623Abstract only
Anon 201228Abstract only
Anon 2012397Abstract only
Anon 20121006Incorrect interventions
Anon 201229Abstract only
Anon 201536Not review population
Aure 2003160Inappropriate comparison
Azevedo 2015163Protocol
Baekgaard 1996167Abstract
Balthazard 2012173Inappropriate comparison
Barone 2007183Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Beattie 2010194Incorrect study design
Beggs 2012196Abstract only
Beladev 2011199Incorrect study design
Bell 2009200Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Bello 2010202Inappropriate comparison
Ben salah frih 2009203Incorrect interventions
Bendix 1995205Inappropriate comparison
Bendix 2000206Inappropriate comparison
Berman 1997221Incorrect study design
Bertocco 2002229Inappropriate comparison. Inappropriate outcomes
Bertozzi 2015230Incorrect study design
Bi 2013235Incorrect interventions
Blomberg 1993251Incorrect interventions
Blomberg 1994247Incorrect interventions
Boah 2012256Abstract only
Bodack 2001257Incorrect study design
Borges 2014273Not guideline condition
Borman 2003274Inappropriate comparison
Brennan 2006287Inappropriate comparison
Brinton 1999289Unavailable
Bronfort 1996293Incorrect interventions
Brooks 2012299Inappropriate comparison
Brox 2003313Inappropriate comparison. A combination of interventions
Brox 2006312Inappropriate comparison. A combination of interventions
Bruce-low 2012316Unavailable
Busanich 2006331Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Bussing 2012334Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Bystrom 2013340Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Cairns 2006348Inappropriate comparison
Callaghan 1994351Incorrect interventions
Cambron 2005353Unavailable
Cambron 2006354Inappropriate comparison
Carr 2005360Incorrect interventions
Carter 2002366Incorrect study design
Cerrada 2012375Abstract only
Chang 1994380Incorrect study design
Chatzitheodorou 2008391Inappropriate comparison
Chen 2012398Incorrect interventions
Cherkin 1996407Unable to obtain - abstract?
Cherkin 1996-1405Unavailable
Cherkin 1999404abstract only
Cherkin 2000401Abstract only
Cho 2015418Incorrect study design
Cho 2015419Incorrect study design
Chown 2008438Inappropriate comparison. Incorrect interventions
Cleland 2006454Inappropriate comparison
Cleland 2007452Inappropriate comparison
Cleland 2009453Incorrect interventions
Collazo 2012469Language - Spanish
Costa 2009481Inappropriate comparison
Coxhead 1974486Factorial design but outcomes for each arm not reported separately
Coxhead 1981487Factorial design but outcomes for each arm not reported separately
Cruzdiaz 2015494Incorrect interventions (both groups received the same combination of interventions)
Cuesta-vargas 2009497Incorrect interventions
Cuesta-vargas 2011498Incorrect interventions
Da fonseca 2009503Incorrect interventions
Del pozo-cruz 2013540Incorrect interventions
Demoulin 2006547Incorrect study design
Descarreaux 2002557Inappropriate comparison
Descarreaux 2002556Abstract only
Dettori 1995558Incorrect interventions
Diab 2013571Incorrect interventions
Diaz 2013572Abstract only
Diaz-arribas 2015573Inappropriate comparison. intraclass comparison
Dimaggio 1987575Incorrect study design
Donzelli 2006587Inappropriate comparison
Dufour 2010599Inappropriate comparison
Durmus 2014605Incorrect interventions. Back school
Eadie 2010608Abstract only
Ezzati 2011642Abstract only
Fernandez 2015655Systematic review: study designs inappropriate
Fernando 1991656Incorrect study design
Ferreira 2007662Incorrect interventions
Ferreira 2010663Incorrect interventions
Fink 2012671Abstract only
Fontana 2005681Not guideline condition
Franca 2012687Inappropriate comparison
Franke 2000691Language - German
Freburger 2008693Incorrect study design. (abstract)
Friedrich 2005705Inappropriate comparison
Fritz 2015715Not review population
Frost 1995725Inappropriate comparison
Frost 1998726Inappropriate comparison
Frost 2004727Incorrect interventions
Gagnon 2005743Inappropriate comparison
Garcia 2013749Inappropriate comparison
Garcia 2015750Protocol for a RCT
Gatti 2011757Inappropriate comparison
Geisser 2005-1767Inappropriate comparison
George 2010769Inappropriate comparison
Ghoname 1999784Crossover study
Giggey 2009791Abstract only
Gladkowski 2014798Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Gram 2012822Not guideline condition
Graves 2004825Incorrect study design
Groessl 2008836Incorrect study design
Gudavalli 2006845Inappropriate comparison
Gur 2003853Incorrect interventions
Hagen 2000864Incorrect interventions
Hahne a.j. 2015872Conference abstract
Handa 2000897Incorrect study design
Hartfiel 2012907Not guideline condition
Helmhout 2004931Inappropriate comparison
Helmhout 2008932Incorrect interventions
Hemmila 2002933Incorrect interventions
Henry 2014940Incorrect interventions
Hides 1996958Inappropriate comparison
Hides 2001957Inappropriate comparison
Hildebrandt 2000960language - Dutch
Hofstee 2003978Not English
Hollinghurst 2008980Incorrect interventions
Homayouni 2015982Incorrect interventions
Hurley 2015997Incorrect interventions
Hurwitz 20021002Incorrect interventions
Iahin 20111007Abstract only
Inani 20131014Inappropriate comparison
Ismail 20131021Conference abstract
Iversen 20031029Incorrect study design
Iversen 20101028Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Jackson 20021036Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Jans 20061049Language - Dutch
Jarrett 20121052Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Javadian 20121058Inappropriate comparison
Javadian 20151057Incorrect interventions. intraclass comparison
Jensen 20091066Not guideline condition
Jensen 20121070unclear interventions
Jensen 20151068unclear interventions
Johannsen 19951079Inappropriate comparison
Johnson 20071082Incorrect interventions
Johnson 20101081Incorrect interventions
Jones 20071088Incorrect age group
Jones 20071087Incorrect age group
Kamali 20141102Incorrect interventions
Kankaanpaa 19991107Inappropriate comparison
Kell 20111132Incorrect interventions. Unclear comparator
Kendall 20151135COMBI. Incorrect interventions
Kennedy 20121137Abstract only
Khalil 19921147Not guideline condition. (myofascial pain syndrome)
Khalil 19941146Incorrect study design. (non-comparative)
Khan 20141151Incorrect interventions
Kim 20131156Incorrect interventions
Koc 20091193Incorrect interventions
Kool 20051218Incorrect interventions
Kool 20071217Incorrect interventions
Koumantakis 20051226Inappropriate comparison
Koumantakis 20051227Inappropriate comparison
Krein 20131232Inappropriate comparison
Kuck 20051238Incorrect study design
Kumar 20091245Incorrect interventions
Kumar 20101247Incorrect interventions
Kumar 20111242abstract only
Kumar 20121246Incorrect study design
Kuukkanen 19981249Incorrect outcomes
Kuukkanen 20071250Incorrect outcome
La touche 20081254Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Lau 20081268Incorrect interventions
Lee 20111300Inappropriate comparison
Lee 20141283Incorrect interventions. intraclass comparison
Leibetseder 20071304Incorrect interventions
Leonard 20151306Not available
Lewis 20051315Incorrect interventions
Lewis 20081313Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Lewis 20111314Inappropriate comparison
Lindstrom 19921336Incorrect interventions
Lindstrom 19921337Incorrect interventions
Lindstrom 20031335Incorrect study design
Linton 19841339Incorrect interventions
Linton 19961340Incorrect interventions
Liu 20131349Review protocol
Liu-ambrose 20051352Inappropriate comparison
Ljunggren 19921354Inappropriate comparison
Ljunggren 19971355Incorrect interventions
Lomond 20141361Incorrect interventions. Intraclass comparison
Long 20041363Inappropriate comparison
Long 20061362Abstract only
Luijsterburg 20081378Unclear exercise class
Lumpkin 20071379Unavailable
Luomajoki 20101380Incorrect study design. (non-comparative)
Macedo 20081386Incorrect interventions
Macedo 20121387Inappropriate comparison
Machado 20121390Review protocol
Machado 20121389Review protocol
Macrae 20131394Incorrect interventions
Magalhaes 20151401Incorrect interventions
Maher 20051405Inappropriate comparison
Malmivaara 19951414Inappropriate comparison
Malmivaara 20071416Incorrect interventions
Malmros 19981417Not guideline condition. Serious spinal pathology (for example, neoplasms, infections or osteoporotic collapse)
Manca 20042180Incorrect interventions
Manca 20071420Inappropriate comparison
Manniche 19881459Inappropriate comparison
Manniche 19911460Inappropriate comparison
Manniom 19991463Inappropriate comparison
Mannion 20131464Incorrect interventions
Mannion 20131461Abstract only
Marshall 2008-11473Incorrect interventions
Marshall 2008-21473Unclear interventions
Matsudaira 20151481Not review population
Mayer 20031486Incorrect study design
Mckenzie 20011507Incorrect study design
Miller 20051528Inappropriate comparison
Milosavljevic 20151532Protocol for RCT
Moffatt 20141541Not guideline condition
Moffett 19991544Incorrect interventions
Moffett 20061545Not guideline condition
Mohseni-bandpei 20111547Incorrect interventions
Montero 20111550Abstract only
Monticone 20131553Incorrect interventions
Monticone 20141552Incorrect interventions
Moon 20131557Inappropriate comparison
Mooney 20041559Incorrect study design
Morone 20111569Incorrect interventions
Morone 20121570Incorrect interventions
Moseley 20021577Incorrect interventions
Mostagi 20151579Unclear intervention
Moustafa 20151583Incorrect interventions
Murtezani 20111597Inappropriate comparison
Murtezani 20151598Incorrect interventions
Nagrale 20121603Inappropriate comparison
Natour 20111613Abstract only
Nazzal 20131616Inappropriate comparison
Nelson 19951619Incorrect study design
Niemisto 20031637Incorrect interventions
Noori 20111644Unavailable
Nwuga 19851650Inappropriate comparison
O'brien 20061655Inappropriate comparison
O'donoghue 20081657Abstract only
Oesch 20101661Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Ohtori 20111669Incorrect interventions
Olah 20081673Incorrect interventions
Olaya-contreras 20151675Incorrect interventions
Oldervoll 20011676Incorrect study design. A non-randomised comparative study
Ostelo 20001686Abstract only
Overman 19881689Inappropriate comparison
Ozdemir 20151693Not guideline condition
Pattanasin 20121731Inappropriate comparison
Pengel 20071741Incorrect interventions
Petersen 20021757Inappropriate comparison
Petersen 20071758Inappropriate comparison
Petersen 20151756Incorrect interventions. Combination therapy (manual therapy with massage vs McKenzie)
Peterson 20111761Incorrect interventions. Combination therapy (manual therapy with massage vs McKenzie)
Petrofsky 20081762Incorrect interventions
Ponte 19841780Incorrect study design
Posadzki 20111782Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Posadzki 20111783Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Preyde 20001790Incorrect interventions. Combination of interventions
Puntumetakul 20131795Inappropriate comparison
Rantonen 20121820Incorrect interventions
Rittweger 20021856Incorrect interventions
Roche-leboucher 20111862Incorrect interventions
Rondoni 20091871Language - Italian
Ryan 20101891Incorrect interventions
Saner 20151910Incorrect interventions. intraclass comparison
Sansonnens 20131911Language - French
Saper 20131914Inappropriate comparison. (dosing study)
Schenk 20031935Incorrect interventions
Schrepfer 20001950Incorrect interventions. Single 20 minute intervention with pre and post scores
Sculco 20011958Incorrect study design
Searle 20151959Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Seferlis 19981964Inappropriate comparison. Not possible to extract results for each intervention seperately to make comparison
Selhorst 20151965Cancelled
Sertpoyraz 20091971Inappropriate comparison
Shamsi 20151975Incorrect interventions. intraclass comparison
Sjogren 19972010Inappropriate comparison
Sjogren 20062011Crossover study
Skikic emuji 20041587Inappropriate comparison
Smith 20012027Incorrect intervention
Smith 20112027Incorrect interventions
Sorensen 20102045Incorrect interventions
Soukup 19992048Not review population. some participants not in pain at time of trial
Spanos 20022049Incorrect outcomes (correction of sciatic scoliosis deformity)
Staal 20042059Incorrect interventions
Standaert 20072063Abstract only
Standaert 20112064Incorrect interventions
Stankovic 19902065Inappropriate comparison
Stankovic 19952066Inappropriate comparison
Steefel 20122069Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Sung 20132085Inappropriate comparison
Sweet 19952090Unavailable
Sweetman 19932092Incorrect age group. Mixed adult and children population
Taylor 20112110Incorrect study design
Tekur 20082117Incorrect interventions. residential yoga course
Tekur 20102116Incorrect interventions. residential yoga course
Tekur 20122115Unlikely to be used as part of current practice
Trampas 20152149Incorrect study design
Tritilanunt 20012153A combination of interventions
Tygiel 19962174Incorrect study design
Unsgaard-tondel 20102182Inappropriate comparison
Vallone 20142188Incorrect interventions
Van der roer 20082194Incorrect interventions
Van dyke 19942201Incorrect study design
Vincent 20122243Abstract only
Vincent 20132244Abstract only
Wajswelner 20122268Inappropriate comparison
Walter 20042275Incorrect study design
Weifen 20132299Incorrect interventions
Wiesinger 19972318Incorrect study design. (non-comparative)
Winters 20042342Inappropriate comparison
Xueqiang 20122359Inappropriate comparison
Yaghoubi 20142360Not in english language
Yamato 20152366Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Ye 20152372Incorrect interventions. intraclass comparison
Yelland 20042377Incorrect interventions
Yeung 20032378Inappropriate comparison
Yozbatiran 20022386language - Turkish
Yozbatiran 20042387Unavailable
Zhang 20152403Incorrect interventions

L.6. Postural therapies

Table 6Studies excluded from the clinical review

StudyExclusion reason
Anon 19994Incorrect study design
Aronow 1986140Incorrect study design. Article
Bonetti 2010270Incorrect study design
Brinton 1999289Unavailable
Cacciatore 2005344Incorrect study design
Cacciatore 2011343Inappropriate outcomes “muscle tone”
Costa 2009481Incorrect interventions
Curnow 2009502Incorrect interventions. Possibly relevant to exercise
Dettori 1995558Incorrect interventions. Possibly relevant to exercise
Diciaccio 2012568Incorrect study design
Dimulescu 2013576Abstract only
Dos Santos 2010591Abstract only
Ernst 2003631Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear. Used to cross-check references
Gatti 2011757Incorrect interventions
Hall 1993886Incorrect interventions
Jaromi 20121051Incorrect interventions. “ergonomics training”
Khan 20081150Incorrect study design
Kim 20131163Incorrect interventions. “neurac sling exercise”
Lawand 20131271Abstract only
McClean 20151500Not a RCT or cohort study, no comparator group.
Norris 20081646Incorrect interventions. Possibly relevant to exercise
Nwuga 19821651Incorrect interventions
Oostendorp 19881682Incorrect interventions. “propriosensory facilitation”
Oyarzo 20141691Incorrect population – not everyone had low back pain
Paolucci 20121705Unavailable
Pesco 20061754Not guideline condition
Sheeran 20131978Intraclass comparison
Sofi 20112039Incorrect study design
Tsao 20082160Incorrect study design
Williams 19912330Incorrect interventions
Woodman 20122349Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO. Used to cross-check references

L.7. Orthotics

Table 7Studies excluded from the clinical review

StudyExclusion reason
Ahlgren 197864incorrect study type
Alaranta 198878Inappropriate comparison
Aleksiev 201486Intraclass exercise comparison
Ammendolia 2005102Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Anon 20005Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Anon 200724Narrative review-unavailable
Berger 2013217Abstract only
Bigos 2009239Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO. No relevant outcomes
Bonaiuti 2004269Incorrect interventions
Brodke 2004291Incorrect study design
Castro-sanchez 2012369Incorrect interventions
Charrette 1998389Does not match review question
Charrette 2003390Incorrect study design (article)
Chen 2003399Population does not match protocol (healthy individuals)
Cholewicki 2010423Incorrect interventions
Chuter 2014448Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Dananberg 1999515Inappropriate comparison
Dougherty 2014592Incorrect interventions
Ferrari 2007657Inappropriate comparison
Ferrari 2011658Inappropriate comparison.
Ferrari 2013659Incorrect interventions. combination
Gatty 2003758Population does not match protocol
Gavin 1993759Inappropriate comparison
Gaydos 2012760Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Goldish 1993814Inappropriate comparison
Hall 2004885Not guideline condition
Hall 2008884Does not match review question
Halvorson 1993888Inappropriate comparison
He 2006921Incorrect interventions
Hipp 2010970Incorrect study design
Jellema 20011062Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Jellema 20021060Inappropriate comparison
Lahad 19941257Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Kawchuk 20151128Inappropriate comparison
Koes 19941202Incorrect interventions.
Langford 20051266Incorrect interventions
Legaspi 20071302Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Mahoney 20011406Inappropriate comparison
Malanga 20101411Inappropriate comparison. Not a study
Mattson 20081483incorrect study stype, case-series
Nachemson 19831600Population does not match protocol
Nyiendo 20011653Intervention does not match protocol
Oh 20141664No compator group
Penrose 19911743Incorrect study design
Penttinen 19901746Inappropriate comparison
Pope 19901781Conference abstract
Sahar 20071896Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO. Systematic review: study designs inappropriate
Saito 20141898Inappropriate comparison
Saunders 19931925Inappropriate comparison
Shabat 20051972Population does not match protocol
Turner 20082169Incorrect study design. Inappropriate comparison
Van duijvenbode 20082200Incorrect interventions. Does not match protocol
Van tulder 20002206Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Verbeek 20112225Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear. Systematic review: study designs inappropriate
Wassell 20002286Population does not match protocol
Wood 20032348Does not match review question
Zhang 20052398Population does not match protocol

L.8. Manual therapies

Table 8Studies excluded from the clinical review (single intervention)

StudyExclusion reason
Abenhaim 199242Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Adamczyk 200950Inappropriate comparison
Added 201351Incorrect interventions
Anderson 1992118Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Anderson 2005114Unavailable
Andersson 1999120Incorrect interventions
Anon 19901Abstract only
Anon 19973Unavailable
Anon 1999127Unavailable
Anon 200519Incorrect study design
Anon 200518Abstract only
Anon 200512Not available
Anon 201127Not available
Anon 20111744Abstract only
Arkuszewski 1986138Incorrect intervention
Assendelft 1992148Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Assendelft 1996149Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Assendelft 2003150Systematic review: quality assessment is inadequate
Assendelft willem 2013147Withdrawn from publication
Aure 2003160Inappropriate comparison
Avery 2004161Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Balthazard 2012173Incorrect interventions
Bialosky 2009236Outcomes measured immediately after treatment only (5 minutes)
Blomberg 1992248Inappropriate comparison
Blomberg 1993251Inappropriate comparison
Blomberg 1993249Inappropriate comparison
Blomberg 1994250Inappropriate comparison
Boezaart 1999261Incorrect interventions
Bronfort 2000292Incorrect interventions
Bronfort 2004296Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Bronfort 2011297Unclear which interventions received
Cai 2009347Inappropriate comparison (cohort study with no control group)
Cambron 2005353Unavailable
Canadian coordinating office for health technology assessment 2002355Unavailable
Carr 2005360Incorrect interventions
Cecchi 2010373Inappropriate comparison
Cecchi 2010371Inappropriate comparison
Cecchi 2012372Inappropriate comparison
Chen 2012395Incorrect interventions
Cherkin 1998402Inappropriate comparison
Cherkin 2003409Systematic review: quality assessment is inadequate
Chown 2008438Inappropriate comparison
Christensen 1993444Inappropriate comparison (cohort study with no control group)
Clarke 2006451Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Clarke 2007450Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Cleland 2006454Inappropriate comparison
Cleland 2006455Inappropriate comparison
Cleland 2009453Inappropriate comparison
Conijn 2003471Incorrect study design
Conijn 2003470Incorrect study design
Cook 2012477Incorrect study design
Cook 2013475Inappropriate comparison
Cote 1994483Inappropriate comparison
Coxhead 1981487Inappropriate comparison
Critchley 2007491Incorrect interventions
Cuesta-vargas 2011498Inappropriate comparison
De oliveira 2013533Inappropriate comparison
Doran 1975589no relevant outcomes
Ehrenbrusthoff 2012614Not available
Erhard 1994628Incorrect interventions
Ernst 1999629Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Ernst 2003630Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Farasyn 2006651Incorrect interventions
Farasyn 2007650Incorrect study design
Ferreira 2003661Systematic review: quality assessment is inadequate
Field 2007668Inappropriate comparison
Flynn 2006680Inappropriate comparison
Foster 2006684Incorrect study design
Franca 2010688Inappropriate comparison
Franca 2012687Inappropriate comparison
Franke 2000690Unavailable
Freeman 2005694Inappropriate comparison
Friedman 2015701Incorrect study design. Conference abstract
Fritzell 2000720Abstract only
Frost 2004727Incorrect interventions
Furlan 2002733Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Furlan 2003732Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Furlan 2008734Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Furlan 2009735Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Geisser 2005-2767Already included
Gibson 1985790Inappropriate comparison
Gillstrom 1985793Inappropriate comparison (cohort study with no control group)
Gillstrom 1985794Inappropriate comparison (cohort study with no control group)
Ginsberg 1987796Inappropriate comparison
Godfrey 1984805Incorrect outcome
Goertz 2012806Not available
Goertz 2013807Inappropriate comparison
Goldby 2006813Specific details of manual therapy modalities not given - could be anything
Goldstein 2002815Incorrect interventions
Grunnesjo 2004843Incorrect interventions. Participants receive different treatment within the same treatment group
Grunnesjo 2011842Incorrect interventions. Participants receive different treatment within the same treatment group
Gudavalli 2006845Inappropriate comparison
Haas 2004856Inappropriate comparison
Haas 2011857Abstract only
Hadler 1987860Inappropriate comparison
Hadler 1990861Inappropriate comparison
Hallegraeff 2009887Inappropriate comparison
Hancock 2010894Incorrect study design
Harte 2003906Systematic review: quality assessment is inadequate
Hauggaard 2007912Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Hay 2005915Incorrect interventions. Combination of interventions
Hay 2008916Inappropriate comparison
Hemmila 1997934Incorrect interventions
Hernandez-reif 2001946Inappropriate comparison
Hertzman-miller 2002950Incorrect interventions. Not all participants received the same care in intervention groups
Heymans 2006952Inappropriate comparison
Hoehler 1981976No relevant outcomes
Hofstee 2002979Inappropriate comparison
Hollisaz 2007981Incorrect interventions
Hsieh 2004988Inappropriate comparison
Hsieh 2006987Inappropriate comparison
Hurley 2001995Editorial
Hurwitz 20021000
Hurwitz 2002999Abstract only
Hurwitz 20021001
Hurwitz 20061003Incorrect interventions
Iversen 20101028Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Jacobs 19921037Incorrect study design
Jang 20131048Inappropriate comparison
Jewell 20051072Inappropriate comparison (cohort study with no control group)
Johnston 20081083Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Jousset 20041091Inappropriate comparison
Kaapa 20061094Inappropriate comparison
Kalauokalani 20011098Incorrect study design
Kankaanpaa 19991107Inappropriate comparison
Karjalainen 20031113Inappropriate comparison
Karjalainen 20041112Inappropriate comparison
Kent 20101138Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Kim 20151162Incorrect population (torture survivors). Incorrect intervention (MET)
Kinalski 19891178Inappropriate comparison
Koes 19961196Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Koes 19981194Abstract only
Kohlbeck 20051206Inappropriate comparison
Koldas 20081208Incorrect interventions
Kraft 20011229Incorrect study design
Krause 20001230Systematic review: study designs inappropriate
Kuczynski 20121239Systematic review: quality assessment is inadequate. Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Kumar 20131244Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Lakke 20091259Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Lalanne 20091260Incorrect outcomes (EMG outcomes)
Larsson 19801267Incorrect outcomes
Learman 20071276Not available
Learman 20081277Incorrect outcomes (improvement in proprioception)
Learman 20091278Incorrect outcomes (improvement in proprioception)
Lewis 20051315Inappropriate comparison
Lewis 20131319Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Licciardone 20031325Inappropriate comparison
Licciardone 20051324Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Licciardone 20131323Not guideline condition
Louw 20071370Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Luijsterburg 20081378Inappropriate comparison
Mackawan 20071393Immediate post-treatment outcomes only
Majchrzycki 20141408Inappropriate comparison
Mandara 20081453Incorrect study design
Mathews 19751478Crossover study
Mathews 19871479Inappropriate comparison
Mathews 19881480Inappropriate comparison
Mccarthy 20081498Incorrect interventions
Mcmorland 20101509Inappropriate comparison
Menke 20141521Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Mirovsky 20021534Incorrect interventions
Mirovsky 20061533Incorrect interventions
Moffett 20001546
Moffett 20031543We have excluded this study as it was allocated (all arms) into teh combinations review
Mooney 20041559Incorrect study design
Morris 20131572Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Moseley 20021577Inappropriate comparison
Muthukrishnan 20101599Inappropriate comparison
Nagrale 20121603Inappropriate comparison
Netchanok 20121622Inappropriate comparison
Newel 19771624no relevant outcomes
Niemisto 20031637Inappropriate comparison
Noori 20111644Incorrect interventions
North american spine society board of directors 20031647Protocol only
O'brien 20061655Not available
Olson 1991393Incorrect study design. (survey)
Oort 20091681Not available
Orrock 20131685Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Ostelo 20001686Abstract only
Paanalahti 20141694Inappropriate comparison
Paatelma 20081695Inappropriate comparison
Panagopoulos 20151702Wrong intervention: visceral manipulation, not spine. Inappropriate comparison. Incorrect interventions
Parkinson 20131722Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Patel 20131727Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Pengel 20021740Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Pfefer 20061763Abstract only
Preyde 20001790Inappropriate comparison
Rajadurai 20091814Systematic review: quality assessment is inadequate
Rannou 20091819Abstrat only
Rasmussen 19791824Inappropriate comparison
Rasmussen-barr 20031825Inappropriate comparison
Richards 20131848Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Roche 20071861Inappropriate comparison
Romanowski 20121868Inappropriate comparison
Rubinstein 20101884Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Rubinstein 20111885Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Rubinstein 20111883Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Rubinstein 20121881Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Rubinstein 20131882Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Rupert 19831887Not available
Rupert 20021888Incorrect study design
Ryan 20041892Incorrect study design
Saggini 20041895Inappropriate comparison
Sahin 20091897Inappropriate comparison
Sanders 19901908Immediate post-treatment outcomes only
Sanders 19901907Abstract only
Schafer 20111930Inappropriate comparison (cohort study with no control group)
Scheer 19961933Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Schenk 20121936Inappropriate comparison
Schenkman 20091937Inappropriate comparison
Schneider 20101942Incorrect study design
Schneider 20141943Abstract only
Schulz 20091953Abstract only
Schulz 20111954Protocol only
Seferlis 19981964Outcomes not reported separately
Seferlis 20001963Outcomes not reported separately
Selhorst 20151965Incorrect age group
Shearar 20051977Not guideline condition
Shekelle 19921980Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Shekelle 19941979Inappropriate comparison
Shum 20131992Incorrect study design
Silva parreira 20132000Abstract only
Sims-williams 19782002Data tables unavailable
Sims-williams 19792003Inappropriate comparison
Skargren 19972014Not guideline condition
Skargren 19982013Incorrect study design
Skargren 19982012Inappropriate comparison
Skillgate 20072016Not guideline condition
Skillgate 20102015Not guideline condition
Slater 20122021Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Smith 20062029Inappropriate outcomes (movement time)
Snow 20012033Incorrect study design
Snyder 20072034Incorrect study design
Sran 20052055Unavailable
Sritoomma 20142056Inappropriate comparison
Stager 20072061Incorrect study design
Standaert 20112064Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Stano 20022067Incorrect study design
Surkitt 20122086Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Sutlive 20092088Inappropriate comparison
Sweetman 19932092Incorrect age group
Swenson 20032093Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Szulc 20152097Incorrect interventions. Combination of interventions
Taber 20142098Incorrect study design
Takamoto 20152100Inappropriate comparison. Intraclass comparison. Not guideline population: low back pain defined as ‘pain and discomfort below the costal margin and above the inferior gluteal fold’
Tasleem 20032107Inappropriate comparison
Ter riet 20022119Abstract only
Tesio 19932121Inappropriate comparison
Thomson 20092136Inappropriate comparison
Tobis 19832142Incorrect study design. methods not described
Tofighi 20112143Not in English
Tozzi 20122147Not guideline condition
Tsao 20102161Incorrect interventions
Tucker 19932166Incorrect study design. (case report)
Ukhalkar 20132181Incorrect interventions
Van der heijden 19952192Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Van der heijden 19952193Incorrect comparison
Van der valk 19952196Incorrect study design. Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Van tulder 19972207Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Van tulder 20002203Abstract only
Vaucher 20132219Incorrect study design
Vavrek 20112220Abstract only
Vavrek 20142221Abstract only
Verhoef 19972227Not guideline condition
Vernon 19992228Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Verwoerd 20152229Incorrect interventions. Not enough details
Vincent 20132245Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Vismara 20122247Inappropriate comparison
Visser 20132248Not guideline condition
Walach 20032269Not guideline condition
Walker 20102272Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Walker 20112273Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Wand 20042277Inappropriate comparison
Wang 20052278Not in English
Waterworth 19852289Inappropriate comparison
Weber 19832294Inappropriate comparison
Wegner 20132298Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Westrom 20102307Protocol only
Wilder 20112320Protocol only
Wilkey 20032322Abstract only
Wilkey 20082321Inappropriate comparison
Williams 19892336Not available
Williams 19972331Incorrect study design
Williams 20032334Not guideline condition
Williams 20042333Not guideline condition
Williams 20072335Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Wilson 20032338Immediate post-treatment outcomes only
Wontae 20132347Incorrect outcomes (range of movement)
Xue 20082358Incorrect study design
Yoon 20122383Inappropriate comparison
Yurtkuran 19972391Incorrect interventions
Zaproudina 20092394Inappropriate comparison
Zhang 20052398Inappropriate comparison
Zhang 20082399Inappropriate comparison

L.9. Acupuncture

Table 9Studies excluded from the clinical review

StudyExclusion reason
Aboagye 201543Inappropriate comparison
Albedah 201583Incorrect interventions. Wet cupping, not acupuncture
Alexandre 200187Not guideline condition
Altmaier 1992100Inappropriate comparison. Not review population. Not guideline condition
Amos 2012104Not guideline condition. Back and neck pain
Anon 20038Review of teh results of a previously published trial
Anon 20049Commentary on Meng 2003
Anon 200517Commentary on Thomas 2005
Anon 201230Unable to obtain article
Arden 2005135Not guideline condition. Not review population
Bronfort 2012294No outcome data
Carlsson 2001359Inappropriate comparison. Inappropriate sham
Ceccherelli 2002370Inappropriate comparison. Within class comparison
Cherkin 2001406Incorrect intervention (acupuncture group also received other treatments)
Dascanio 2011520No relevant outcomes
Di cesare 2011567Incorrect interventions. Inappropriate comparison. Anaesthetic injections (mesotherapy)
Ding 2015577Inappropriate comparison
Eisenberg 2007616Incorrect intervention. Patients could choose to have massage, acupuncture or chiropracty.
Farham 2006652Commentary on Thomas 2006
Fox 1976685Crossover study
Franke 2000691In German
Frost 1976724Incorrect popualtion
Furlan 2005737Cochrane Review - used as source of references
Furlan 2011738Cochrane reviuew - used as source of references
Garvey 1989752Incorrect interventions
Ghia 1976780Not guideline condition. Not all patients had back pain
Giles 1999792Not guideline condition. Not all patients had low back pain
Glazov 2009801Incorrect intervention. Laser
Glazov 2014802Incorrect intervention. Laser
Guerreiro da silva 2004846Not guideline condition. Low back or pelvic pain in pregnancy
Hanly 2000898cohort study-incorrect population (inflammatory causes of backpain)
Hansson 2008903Not guideline condition. Not all patients had low back pain
Hirota 2006972Not in English
Hirota 2007971Not in English
Hopton 2010985Includes 2 reviews (Furlan 2005 and Manheimer 2005) already included separately
Hsieh 2004988Incorrect intervention. Acupressure (no needles)
Hsieh 2006987Incorrect intervention. Acupressure (no needles)
Hurley 2001995Commentary on Cherkin 2001
Hutchinson 20121005Systematic review: quality assessment is inadequate. All included studies already in our list
Inman 20041017cohort study-single intervention study
Inoue 20081018Incorrect interventions. Comparator is injection of local anaesthetic
Inoue 20091019Incorrect interventions. Comparator is injection of local anaesthetic
Itoh 20041026Inappropriate comparison. Within class comparison
Itoh 20041023Not in English
Itoh 20051024Not in English
Itoh 20061025Crossover study
Itoh 20091027Not in English
Ji 20151074SR used as a source of references. Studies in Chinese language included.
Kerr 20031141Inappropriate comparison. Inappropriate sham
Kim 20131174cohort study-interclass comparison
Kinoshita 19811180Not in English
Kraft 20011229Commentary on Franke 2000
Kreczi 19861231Crossover study
Kvorning 20041251Not guideline condition. Not all patients had LBP (some pelvic/girdle pain; pregnant women)
Lam 20131261Systematic review - all relevant papers included
Lee 20131291Systematic review - all relevant papers included
Lee 20131295Abstract only; no outcomes
Lian 20051322Inappropriate comparison. Within class comparison
Lin 20151330Inflammatory causes of back pain (for example, ankylosing spondylitis or diseases of the viscera). Mixed chronic pain (not just low back pain)
Liu 20151350Incorrect study design. Cohort study
Macdonald 19831385Inappropriate sham. Inappropriate comparison
Manheimer 20051457Systematic review - all relevant papers included
Manheimer 20051456Systematic review - all relevant papers included
Mendelson 19771519Incorrect study design. Not outcomes of RCT
Mendelson 19781518Crossover study
Mendelson 19831520Crossover study
Miao 20101522Inappropriate comparison. Within class comparison
Miyazaki 20091539Not guideline condition. Incorrect interventions
Moffett 19991544Incorrect interventions
Molsberger 20061548Incorrect study design
Najafi 20131604Incorrect study design
Najm 20081605Commentary on Haake 2007
Nicholas 19921635Inappropriate comparison
Pach 20131697Inappropriate comparison. Within class comparison
Sakai 20011899Commentary on Sakai 2001 published in Japanese
Sator-katzenschlager 20041923Inappropriate comparison. Within class comparison
Seo 20131969Protocol only; no results
Sherman 20031983Protocol only; no results
Shin 20121987Inappropriate comparison
Skonnord 20122018Protocol only; no results
Sodipo 19812035Poster
Sugiyama 19842084Not in English
Szczurko 20072095Incorrect interventions. Dietary intervention and relaxation techniques are part of the combination of intervention.
Thomas 19942130Crossover study
Thomas 20052128HTA
Van tulder 19992205Systematic review - all relevant trials included
Vas 20142218Mixed chronic pain (not just low back pain)
Vickers 20042234Not SR; review only includes 1 eligible RCT, already included (Grant 1999)
Vickers 20092237Not RCT or SR
Vickers 20102236Systematic review - all relevant papers included
Vickers 20122235Systematic review - all relevant papers included
Vickers 20122233Systematic review - all relevant papers included
Vlaeyen 19952250Incorrect study design. No useabledatato extract- presented as graphs and univariate analysis
Wedenberg 20002297Not guideline condition. Not all patients had low back pain (some pelvic pain and some both; pregnant women; only 4/60 pure LBP)
White 20022310Commentary on Leibing 2002
Xu 20132357Systematic review - all relevant papers included
Xu 20152356Incorrect comparison: moxibustion
Yamashita 20012365Commentary
Yeh 20132373Incorrect intervention. Acupressure
Yeh 20142374Mixed chronic pain (not just low back pain). Inflammatory causes of back pain (for example, ankylosing spondylitis or diseases of the viscera)
Yeung 20032378Wrong comparison: Combi Tx vs. single Tx - has been included in Combi review
Yuan 20092389Inappropriate comparison. Within class comparison
Zhang 19972402Inappropriate comparison. Within class comparison
Zhi 19952405Inappropriate comparison. Within class comparison

L.10. Electrotherapies

Table 10Studies excluded from the clinical review

StudyExclusion reason
Akhmadeeva 201471incorrect study design: Conference abstract
Barker 2008180Inappropriate comparison
Bloodworth 2004253Crossover study
Brosseau 2002300Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Chenot 2007400Incorrect study design. Post hoc analysis of a longitudinal prospective cohort study embedded within a 3 armed RCT
Cubukcu 2004495Incorrect interventions
Durmus 2009604Incorrect interventions
Ebadi 2013609Incorrect study design
Ebadi 2014610Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Flowerdew 1997679Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Gabis 2009742Incorrect interventions
Ghoname 1999784Crossover study
Ghoname 1999783Crossover study
Ghoname 1999782Crossover study
Ghoname 1999781Crossover study
Glaser 2001799Incorrect interventions
Grazio 2009827Abstract only
Hurley 2001995Commentary not primary study
Khadilkar 20051145Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Kim 20151173Incorrect interventions
Kloimstein 20141188Incorrect study design. No control group
Lam 20141262Incorrect study aim: looking at procedure for stimulation for popliteal sciatic nerve blocks
Lumpkin 20071379Unavailable
Monticone 20041551Not guideline condition
Moore 19971567Crossover study
Pallett 20141701Incorrect study design. Observational study (no control group)
Perez-palomares 20101748Unavailable
Rabin 19871806Incorrect study design
Sakai 20011899Unavailable
Salim 19961902Not guideline condition
Seco 20111960Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Thiese 20132124Protocol only; no outcomes
Thorsteinsson 19772137Crossover study
Ugur 20012179Non-English
Weng 20052305Not guideline condition
Yip 20072381Incorrect interventions. TENS + radiation (not in list so not permissible combination) vs. usual care
Yokoyama 20042382Incorrect comparison
Yousefi-nooraie 20082385Systematic review: quality assessment is inadequate

L.11. Psychological intervention

Table 11Studies excluded from the clinical review

StudyExclusion reason
Altmaier 1992100Incorrect interventions. No appropriate control group.
Andersson 2012119Not guideline condition. Included neck pain- no subgrouping.
Argueta-bernal 2004137Systematic review: literature search not sufficiently rigorous. Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear. Incorrect interventions. Inappropriate comparison
Bailey 2002169Dissertation
Basler 1990189Not guideline condition. Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO. Included all chronic pain syndromes no stratification.
Basler 1997188,189Incorrect intervention
Bean 2014193Mixed chronic pain (not just low back pain)
Beissner 2012197Incorrect study design. Inappropriate comparison
Bendix 1995205Incorrect interventions. psychophysical programme- Unclear if the active physical training group could act as compare.
Bendix 1998204Incorrect interventions. Mixed intervention
Bendix 2000206Incorrect interventions. Mixed intervention.
Besen 2015232Incorrect study design
Bland 2010244Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear. Systematic review: quality assessment is inadequate. Systematic review: literature search not sufficiently rigorous. Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO. Incorrect interventions. Inappropriate comparison
Boogar 2012271Not in English
Brox 2003313Incorrect interventions. Mixed intervention cognitive behavioural approaches +Exercises
Bru 1994315Includes other musculoskeletal pain.
Brunner 2013317Systematic review: study designs inappropriate. Systematic review: quality assessment is inadequate. Included mixed interventions. Poor quality assessment.
Buhrman 2004323Not guideline condition. Included neck pain
Buhrman 2011324Not guideline condition. Mixed low back, thoracic and neck pain.
Busch 2011332Not review population. Mixed chronic pain (not just low back pain)
Canter 2007357Abstract / summary only
Carson 2005365Incorrect interventions
Cherkin 2014408Inappropriate comparison. Comparing two different psychological interventions.
Christensen 2003443Serious spinal pathology (for example, neoplasms, infections or osteoporotic collapse)
Christiansen 2010445Incorrect interventions. No control group.
Cohen 1983460Incorrect study design
Cramer 2012489Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO. Included mindfulness based cognitive therapy. Protocol does not include this intervention
Diaz 2013572Abstract only
Dobscha 2008581Inappropriate comparison. Muscular skeletal pain, not specifically back pain. Indirect population.
Domenech 2013583Incorrect study design. Incorrect interventions. Inappropriate comparison. Description of intervention only
Donaldson 1994585Mixed chronic pain (not just low back pain)
Esmer 2010635Inappropriate comparison
Finan 2012669Incorrect study design. Crossover study. Not guideline condition. Incorrect interventions. Inappropriate comparison
Flor 1993677Not guideline condition
Friedberg 2010700Incorrect study design. (commentary)
Gatchel 2003756Incorrect interventions
Glombiewski 2010803Not guideline condition. Mixed low, mid and upper back pain.
Guck 2015844Incorrect study design
Goossens 1998817HE paper with no relevant clinical outcomes
Haig 2003875Wrong intervention. Incorrect interventions
Hansen 2010901Incorrect study design. Description of an intervention used. No data.
Hay 2005915Incorrect interventions. Mixed intervention
Heinrich 1985929Incorrect interventions
Henschke 2010943Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Hentschke 2010944Incorrect study design. Incorrect interventions
Hernandez-reif 2001946Incorrect interventions
Hoffman 2007977Primary neurological disorders (including cauda equina syndrome or mononeuritis). Serious spinal pathology (for example, neoplasms, infections or osteoporotic collapse). Inflammatory causes of back pain (for example, ankylosing spondylitis or diseases of the viscera). Included all non-cancerous causes of LBP
Johnson 20071082Incorrect interventions. Mixed cognitive behavioural approaches with physical intervention
Johnstone 20021084Inappropriate comparison
Jonbozorgi 20131086Not in English
Kaluza 19861101Not in English
Kankaanpaa 19991107Incorrect interventions
Kapitza 20101109Incorrect interventions. Inappropriate comparison
Kerns 20141140intraclass comparison
Klaber moffett 19861184Mixed intervention group compared with control (Back school)
Lamb 20071263Incorrect study design
Lindell 20081332Not guideline condition. Data for CLBP patients was not analysed separately
Lindstrom 19921336Outcomes do not match protocol
Linton 19841339Incorrect interventions. Mixed relaxation and behavioural therapy versus waiting list control.
Linton 20001338included patients with non-specific neck and back pain.
Linton 20011343Included non-specific neck pain as well, no subgroup for low back pain.
Linton 20051345Not guideline condition. Included neck pain patients.
Linton 20061342included patients with non-specific neck and back pain.
Machado 20071391Incorrect interventions
Mangels 20091455Not guideline condition. Mixed musculoskeletal disease.
Mccauley 19831499Incorrect interventions
Mehling 20051512Incorrect interventions
Monticone 20131553Incorrect interventions
Monticone 20141552Wrong intervention: included in MBR review
Moore 20001562Not guideline condition. Population unclear.
Morone 20121571Incorrect study design. Design and methods only.
Moseley 20041576Incorrect interventions. Non
Nakao 20121606Post-hoc analysis of another RCT selecting those with low back pain from their responses to the Symptom Checklist questionnaire.
Newton-john 19951627Incorrect study design. control group not randomised.
Nicholas 19911634Incorrect interventions
Nicholas 19921635Incorrect interventions
Norton 20151648Cost effectiveness analysis only
O'keeffe 20151658Study protocol
Olason 20041674Wrong study design. Incorrect study design. Inappropriate comparison. Retrospective cohort study.
Onac 20121678Inappropriate comparison
Paolucci 20121704Incorrect interventions
Patil 20091730Incorrect study design. Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear. Systematic review: literature search not sufficiently rigorous. Incorrect interventions. Inappropriate comparison
Persson 20011753Serious spinal pathology (for example, neoplasms, infections or osteoporotic collapse). Incorrect interventions. Inappropriate comparison. No psychological intervention arm.
Pincus 20111769Incorrect study design
Pincus 20131770Incorrect study design. Reports proposed study design only.
Pincus 20151771Incorrect comparator - no details of physio given
Pouladeireishehri 20111787Conference abstract
Raftery 20131811Incorrect interventions. Psychological intervention was PGAP, not on protocol
Raine 20041812Wrong study design. Incorrect study design
Rasmussen 20131823Incorrect interventions
Reid 20031837Incorrect study design. Inappropriate comparison. Uncontrolled study.
Reme 20111840Incorrect study design. Protocol only
Riecke 20131851Incorrect interventions. Cognitive behavioural approaches used as control, both arms received it. . Inappropriate comparison
Riipinen 20051852Wrong comparison. Incorrect interventions. Inappropriate comparison
Rogerson 20101866Incorrect interventions. Mixed cognitive behavioural approaches with physical therapy.
Rose 19971874Inappropriate comparison. Comparing cognitive behavioural approaches course lengths, no placebo group.
Saarijärvi 19921893Incorrect interventions. Couple therapy intervention
Schiltenwolf 20061939Inappropriate comparison
Schweikert 20061956Incorrect interventions. Usual care, is far beyond usual care in NHS.
Sleptsova 20132023Not guideline condition. Incorrect interventions. Mixed types of chronic pain.
Sousa 2009535Incorrect sample size. Incorrect interventions. Waiting list versus exercise, cognitive behavioural approaches and EMG
Spinhoven 20042053Re-analysis of the results of Kole 1999
Steenstra 20062070Incorrect interventions. Mixed intervention with large PT input.
Sveinsdottir 20122089Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear. Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO. Incorrect study design. Narrative review
Taloyan 20132104Incorrect study design. Inappropriate comparison
Tlach 20112140Incorrect study design. Incorrect interventions. Non randomised study from description, and also 3 x interventions all involving cognitive behavioural approaches no control group.
Trapp 20092151Conference abstract
Turner 19822171Incorrect study design
Van den hout 20032191Incorrect interventions. Problem solving therapy.
Van tulder 20002209Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO. Only chronic LBP, (>12 weeks)
Van tulder 20012210Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO. Only chronic >12 weeks included
Vibe fersum k. 20132231Incorrect interventions
Vlaeyen 19952250Incorrect study design. Patients assigned to treatment groups based on timing of referral (‘time criterion’)
Wand 20042277Inappropriate comparison
Werner 20102306Incorrect study design. Describes prospective study design only. . Trail design and not results
Whitfill 20102313Incorrect interventions

L.12. Pharmacological interventions

Table 12Studies excluded from the clinical review

StudyExclusion reason
Aghababian 198657Drug not licensed in the UK.
Agrifoglio 199462Inappropriate comparison
Aksoy 200272Inappropriate comparison
Albert 200884Incorrect study design. Incorrect interventions. Inappropriate comparison
Alford 201389Not clinical trial.
Allan 200593Incorrect interventions
Altman 2010101Narative review
Andersen 1978110Not review population
Anon 200513Abstract
Anon 200516Not clinical trial
Anon 200726Narative review
Aoki 1983129Incorrect interventions
Arbus 1990134Incorrect interventions
Arul prakasam 2011144Incorrect study design
Atkinson 1985152Narrative review
Bakshi 1994171Incorrect interventions
Baratta 1976177Not guideline condition
Baratta 1982178Incorrect interventions
Baron 2015182incorrect population (sciatica)
Bartleson 2002186Systematic review: quality assessment is inadequate. Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Basmajian 1989191Not review population
Benyamin 2015214Study protocol
Biondi 2013240Incorrect interventions. Inappropriate comparison
Blazek 1986245Inappropriate comparison
Borenstein 1990272Inappropriate comparison
Bosch 1997277Incorrect interventions
Brannan 2005285Not guideline condition. Not review population
Brizzi 2004290Inappropriate comparison
Bronfort 1996293Inappropriate comparison
Bronfort 2004296Inappropriate comparison
Brotz 2010301Sciatica population
Brown 1978304Not guideline condition. Mixed back and neck pain.
Brown 1986305Drug not licensed in the UK.
Brown 1996308Systematic review: study designs inappropriate. Systematic review: literature search not sufficiently rigorous. Systematic review: quality assessment is inadequate. Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Browning 2001309Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Brunton 2010318Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Buffum 2004322Crossover study
Burgess 2001327Narative review.
Cabitza 2008342Inappropriate comparison
Casale 1988367Incorrect interventions
Chan 2009378Narrative review
Chandanwale 2011379Incorrect interventions
Chaparro 2014383Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Chapman 1982385Incorrect interventions
Charlusz 2010388Incorrect interventions
Childers 2005410Inappropriate comparison
Chou 2004437Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Chou 2007435Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Chung 2013446Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Coats 2004456Inappropriate comparison. Intervention removed from the market.
Codding 2008458Abstract
Cohen 2015463Inappropriate comparison. Not guideline condition
Coletta 1988468Inappropriate comparison
Cowan 1963485Not guideline condition. Mixed musculoskeletal disorders.
Davies 2008527Systematic review: quality assessment is inadequate. Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Davoli 1989528Incorrect interventions
Dharmshaktu 2012566Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO. Not review population
Driessens 1994596Inappropriate comparison
Durant 1988603Not guideline condition. Not an efficacy trial.
Ergun 2010627Inappropriate comparison
Euller-ziegler 2001637Narative review
Famaey 1998648Inappropriate comparison
Farajirad 2013649Inappropriate comparison. Drug not used to treat low back pain
Ferreira 2002660Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Fine 2002670Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Fishbain 2000672Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO. Systematic review: quality assessment is inadequate. Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Frampton 2007686Not guideline condition
Friedman 2008702Incorrect interventions
Fryda-kaurimsky 1981728Inappropriate comparison
Furlan 2006736Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Gaynor 2011761Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Geba 2004762Abstract only
Giles 1999792Comment, not RCT
Gimbel 2014795Incorrect interventions
Ginsberg 1987796Incorrect interventions
Glaxosmithkline 1995800Study register, RCT included (Dickens2000)
Gold 1978812Insufficient information reported for analysis
Goldstein 2002815Incorrect interventions
Gotzsche 2000818Excerpts from clinical evidence reports.
Gotzsche 2010819Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Gould 2009820Oxymorphone is not licended in the UK
Grahame 1976821Not guideline condition. Narative review.
Grevsten 1975830Not guideline condition
Griffin 2000832Abstract.
Grillage 1986834Not guideline condition
Gross 1986837not in english
Grunenthal gmbh 2010841Clinical trial, not published study
Hackett 1988859Brief report
Hagen 2000864Incorrect interventions
Hale 1997880Inappropriate comparison
Hale 2007882Incorrect interventions. Oxymorphone is not licenced in the UK
Hale 2009881Not guideline condition. Mixed causes of pain.
Hale 2013883Not an efficacy trial.
Hameroff 1982889Not guideline condition. Mixed back and neck pain population.
Hameroff 1984890Not guideline condition. Mixed back and neck pain population
Hancock 2009896Not an efficacy trial.
Haroutiunian 2010905Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO. Systematic review: quality assessment is inadequate. Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Hasue 1997911Not guideline condition. Non English language
Heath 2006923Not guideline condition
Hennies 1981938Not guideline condition. Inappropriate comparison
Hickey 1982953Drug not licensed in the UK.
Himanen 1982963Conference abstract
Hindle 1972964Inappropriate comparison
Hingorani 1966965Not guideline condition
Hingorani 1970968Drug not used for low back pain.
Hingorani 1971966Inflammatory causes of back pain (for example, ankylosing spondylitis or diseases of the viscera)
Hingorani 1975969Inappropriate comparison
Hingorani 1975967Conference abstract
Hondras 2009983Incorrect interventions
Hunt 2003993Not an efficacy trial.
Hurme 1986998Drug not licensed in the UK.
Hurwitz 20021002Incorrect interventions
Hurwitz 20051004Incorrect interventions
Ilic 20091012Incorrect population
Jackson 20061035Narative review
Jaffe 19741044Inappropriate comparison
Jamison 19981046Inappropriate comparison
Jamison 20131047Inappropriate comparison. Post-hoc analysis of Hale et al. looking at effect of psychological status.
Jokhio 19981085Not guideline condition. Inappropriate comparison
Kageyama 19821096Not in english
Kalso 20051099Not clinical trial.
Kalso 20071100Incorrect interventions
Kantor 19861108Not guideline condition. Narative review.
Katz 20031122Incorrect interventions. Drug withdrawn from the market.
Katz 20041124Inappropriate comparison. Intervention withdrawn from the market.
Katz 20071123Incorrect interventions. Oxymorphone is not licenced in the UK
Katz 20111121Drug not licensed in the UK. Inappropriate comparison
Kavanagh 20091125Not guideline condition
Kavanagh 20121126Not guideline condition. Inappropriate comparison. Mixed population of osteoarthrisits and low back pain.
Keller 20071133Summary of reviews.
Ketenci 20051144Inappropriate comparison
Kimbrough 20101177Inappropriate comparison. Letter to editor.
Kivitz 20131182Inappropriate comparison. Drug not licensed in the UK.
Koes 19921198Incorrect interventions
Koes 19921199Inappropriate comparison
Koes 19931197Not guideline condition. Inappropriate comparison
Koes 19961200Systematic review: literature search not sufficiently rigorous. Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Koes 19971201Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Koes 20061203Narative reivew
Kotani 19761223Not in english
Kroenke 20091234Not guideline condition
Kuijpers 20111240Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Kuroki 19951248Not in english
Kwong 20131253Not an efficacy trial.
Lam 20131261Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Lange 20101265Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Laws 19941272Inappropriate comparison
Leas 20101279Evidence advisory paper - not an efficacy trial.
Lee 20081286Not guideline condition
Lepisto 19791307Not review population. Thoracic and lumbar muscle spasm population
Li 20081320Inappropriate comparison
Lind 20071331Not guideline condition. Narative review.
Lionberger 20101346Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Listrat 19901347Short communication only.
Lloyd 20041356Incorrect interventions
Loldrup 19891360Not guideline condition
Machado 20091388Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Maciel 20141392Not guideline condition
Madhusudhan 20131398Inappropriate comparison
Madigan 20091399Narative reivew
Majchrzycki 20141408Inappropriate comparison
Maksymowych 20041410Inflammatory causes of back pain (for example, ankylosing spondylitis or diseases of the viscera)
Malanga 20081412Narrative review
Malanga 20091413Not guideline condition
Markman 20151469Not guideline condition
Martell 20071475Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Martina 20051476Narative review
Matsumo 19811482Abstract only.
Mayyas 20101488Not guideline condition. Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Mazza 20101490Incorrect interventions
Mccarberg 20101496Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Mccarberg 20131497Not a clinical trial.
Mcguinness 19691505Not guideline condition
Mcintosh 20111506Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Mehta 20091514Drug not licended in UK
Mibielli 20101523Not guideline condition. Mixed back, hip and nexk pain populations.
Middleton 19841524Exclude: intraclass comparison
Mika 20131525Not guideline condition. Narative review.
Milgrom 19931526Incorrect study design
Miller 20131530Incorrect interventions
Mitra 20131537Not guideline condition. Mixed chronic pain population
Moore 19991563Not guideline condition
Moore 20031564Not guideline condition
Moore 20071565Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Moore 20101566Irrelevant study
Moore 20151560Abstract
Morlion 20111568Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO. Systematic review: quality assessment is inadequate. Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Moulin 20011582Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Muckle 19861585Not guideline condition
Muller 20051588Comment, not RCT
Mullican 20011589Not guideline condition. Mixed population of osteoarthritis and low back pain.
Muncie 19861590Drug not available in the UK.
Murphy 19781596Not guideline condition
Nalamachu 20111607Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Nemes 20131620Incorrect population
Noble 20101640Not guideline condition
O'donnell 20091656Incorrect interventions. Cyclo-Oxygenase-2 not listed in the BNF
Okada 19761671Not in english
Ono 19871680Non English language
Orava 19861683Inappropriate comparison
Oyemade 19791692Not guideline condition
Palangio 20001699Not guideline condition. Mixed chronic pain population
Palangio 20021700Inappropriate comparison
Patel 20001726Inappropriate comparison
Pedersen 20141737Not guideline condition
Pedersen 20151738Incorrect population, sciatica.
Peniston 20091742Post hoc analysis of 2 studies pooled.
Pergolizzi 20131749Narative review
Perrot 20061751Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Perrot 20081750Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Petering 20111755Narative review.
Pohjolainen 20001777Inappropriate comparison
Postacchini 1988-11785Incorrect study design
Pownall 19861788Not an efficacy trial.
Preston 20141789Not review population
Raber 19991804Inappropriate comparison
Ralph 20081816Inappropriate comparison. Intervention withdrawn from the market.
Rauck 20061832Inappropriate comparison
Rauck 20061833Inappropriate comparison
Rauck 20061828Abstract
Rauck 20061829Abstract
Rauck 20061830Abstract
Rauck 20071831Inappropriate comparison
Rauck 20091827Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Rauck 20141834Incorrect interventions. Hydrocodone is not licenced in the UK
Relja 19901838Incorrect study design
Richards 20021849Conference abstract
Riou 20141854Not an efficacy trial.
Roelofs 20081864Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Roelofs 20081865Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Romano 20121867Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Romera 20121869Not guideline condition. Not an efficacy trial.
Roodbro 19751873Not guideline condition
Rossi 20121877Inappropriate comparison
Rovinski 19951879Non-English language.
Rusinyol 20091890Incorrect interventions
Sakai 20081900Not guideline condition
Salerno 20021901Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Salvini 19861904Not guideline condition. Inappropriate comparison
Salzman 19991905Inappropriate comparison. Not an efficacy trial.
Salzmann 19921906Inappropriate comparison. Drug withdrawn from the market.
Santos 20151913Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Sarbu 20081916Non-comparative study.
Schattenkirchner 20031931Incorrect interventions
Schnitzer 20031944Narative review.
Schnitzer 20041945Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO. Systematic review: study designs inappropriate
Schreiber 20011949Not guideline condition. Mixed low back pain and whiplash populations.
Sedighi 20141962RCT protocol
Serfer 20101970Drug withdrawn
Shimia 20141986Not guideline condition
Shirado 20101991Incorrect interventions
Silva 19952001Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Skljarevski 20112017Not guideline condition. Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Slappendel 20062020Inappropriate comparison. Not an efficacy trial.
Sloan 20082025Narative review.
Smith 20022028Narrative review
Smith 20102030Narative review. Not guideline condition
Soni 20092043Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Soonawalla 20082044Inappropriate comparison
Sorge 19972046Inappropriate comparison
Sprott 20062054Not an efficacy trial.
Staiger 20032062Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Steiner 20112072Inappropriate comparison
Stimmel 19862075Narative review.
Storch 19822076Non English language
Stratz 19902078Incorrect interventions. Drug not licensed in the UK.
Straube 20102080Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Sweetman 19872091Incorrect study design
Szpalski 19932096Conference abstract
Taguchi 20152099incorrect population (sciatica)
Tanen 20142105Incorrect comparison adn population (sciatica)
Tasleem 20032107Incorrect study design. Not guideline condition. Inappropriate comparison
Tavafian 20142109Inappropriate comparison
Taylor 20132112Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Ternelin 19982120Incorrect interventions
Thomas 20062129Incorrect interventions
Thompson 19832134Abstract only
Thurel 19912138Inappropriate comparison
Torri 19942145Not in english
Toth 20042146Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO. Systematic review: quality assessment is inadequate. Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Tsuyama 19772165Not in english
Tsuyama 19812163Not in english
Tsuyama 19842164Not in english
Turner 19932172Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear. Systematic review: literature search not sufficiently rigorous. Systematic review: quality assessment is inadequate
Tuzun 20032173Inappropriate comparison. Drug not licensed in UK
Uberall 20122175Drug not licensed in the UK.
Ueberall 20152178Incorrect interventions. Intraclass comparison
Urquhart 20082183Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Vaiani 19902186Not guideline condition
Van der weide 19972197Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Van tulder 19972207Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Van tulder 20002211Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Van tulder 20012204Not in english
Van tulder 20032212Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Van tulder 20032213Systematic review: study designs inappropriate
Van tulder 20062208Summary of systematic reviews.
Veenema 20002222Incorrect interventions
Verdu 20082226Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear. Systematic review: quality assessment is inadequate
Videman 19842241Drug not licensed in the UK.
Videman 19842242Incorrect interventions. Inappropriate comparison
Volklein 19902252Not in english
Von heymann 20132253Incorrect interventions
Vorsanger 20092258Irrelevant study
Vorsanger 20092257Irrelevant study
Vorsanger 20102260Not guideline condition. Inappropriate comparison
Vorsanger 20112259Inappropriate comparison. Within class post-hoc comparison.
Wade 20092265Narrative review
Waikakul 19952267Inappropriate comparison
Waikakul 19962266Inappropriate comparison
Wang 20082280Systematic review is not relevant to review question or unclear PICO
Ward 19812284Inappropriate comparison
Ward 19842282Incorrect study design
Ward 19862283Not an efficacy trial.
Waterworth 19852289Diflunical not registered in the UK
Watson 20042291Not guideline condition. Mixed chronic pain population.
Weber 19802295Drug not used for low back pain.
Weber 19802293Incorrect interventions
Wen 20152304Incorrect intervention (hydrocodone is not lincended in the UK)
Weil 20102300Not guideline condition
Wetzel 20142308Incorrect study design: cross-over study
White 20112311Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear
Wielage 20132317Incorrect study design
Wielage 20132316Incorrect study design
Wild 20102319Not guideline condition. Inappropriate comparison. Mixed low back pain and osteoarthritis populations.
Williams 20092329Incorrect interventions
Williamson 20142337Post-hoc analysis of length of treatment.
Worz 19962350Not in english
Ximenes 20072354Inappropriate comparison. Drug withdrawn from the market
Yakhno 20062361Inappropriate comparison
Yaksi 20072362Incorrect interventions
Yarlas 20132369Inappropriate comparison
Yue 20142390Incorrect interventions
Zerbini 20052397Inappropriate comparison. Within class comparison.
Zippel 20072412Inappropriate comparison

L.13. Combined interventions: multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation (MBR) programmes

Table 13Studies excluded from the clinical review (Combination, MBR and RTW reviews)

StudyExclusion reason
Ahlqwist 200865Incorrect age group
Alaranta 199179Not guideline condition. Not in English. Not review population
Alaranta 199480Back school included in comparison arm
Albaladejo 201082Incorrect interventions
Alexandre 200187Inadequate description of exercise
Andersson 1999120Not a programme. No specific Tx given
Apeldoorn 2012132Control group all tailored
Basler 1997188All tailored Tx and CBT in combination
Ben salah frih 2009203Insufficient description of interventions
Brealey 2003286,286Incorrect study design (protocol of UK Beam trial)
Bronfort 2000292Not everyone received same care
Bronfort 2011297No combi Tx group
Brox 2003313Incorrect interventions. Comparator is spinal surgery
Bru 1994315Not guideline condition. Not all patients had low back pain
Callaghan 1994351Incorrect interventions. 8 week back school vs. 4 week back school vs sham exercise
Carr 2005360Incorrect interventions. Modality of physiotherapy is not described
Cecchi 2010371Exercises part of the combi Tx not defined
Chan 2011377Tailored Tx modalities in both groups
Chatzitheodorou 2008391Diathermy in combi group, excluded Tx
Chown 2008438Fully tailored Tx
Christensen 2003443Incorrect population
Christiansen 2010445Incorrect interventions. Modalities of exercise and physiotherapy are not specified
Corey 1996479Same study as Mitchell 1994. Back school offered in control arm, control arm could also receive ‘physiotherapy’ - no further elaboration provided.
Cramer 1993488Usual care + massage + cold pack vs. manipulation (+ tailored adjunct)
Cuesta-vargas 2009497Inappropriate comparison. A+B versus A only type (adjunct)
Cuesta-vargas 2011498Inappropriate comparison. A+B versus A only type (adjunct)
Demir 2014545Incorrect population (post-surgery)
Denis 2012549Not all participants currently have low back pain
Deyo 1990565Inappropriate comparison. Analysed as TENS vs. no TENS, exercise vs. no exercise not in randomised groups
Donaldson 1994585No combi Tx arm
Ernst 2005632Incorrect study design (commentary)
Erp 2015633Protocol for an RCT
Esmer 2010635No combi Tx arm
Farrell 1982653Diathermy part of the main intervention - diathermy is an excluded intervention
Ferrari 2013659Incorrect interventions. No description of exercise
Ford 2015682Wrong intervention: mixed physio: the interventions given were diffeernt depending upon the ubnderlying pathology of the LBP. Pts not all randomised to the same Tx.
Franco 2014689Incorrect study design. Protocol for an RCT
Frost 2004727Combi physiotherapy group completely tailored
Gudavalli 2006845Participants in Tx group could also receive choice of modalities - cryote or USS
Hampel 2015891Incorrect study design. Longitudinal non-randomised study
Hebert 2015924Rehabilitation following lumbar disc surgery
Heinrich 1985929Does not give details of modalities used within core elements of the interventions, eg ‘exercises’
Helmhout 2008932Combi Tx arm is tailored Tx
Hemmila 1997934Comparison group gives classes but modalites used tailored at discretion of physiotherapist
Henry 2014940Inappropriate comparison. Comparison between treatment matched vs unmatched to patient-specific clinical features
Hodselmans 2001975Incorrect study design. Not RCT; Includes back school in intervention group
Homayouni 2015982Incorrect interventions. Hot packs as part of intervention
Hurley 2015997Mixed chronic pain (not just low back pain). Population includes postpartum back pain
Jakobsen 20151045Not guideline condition. Mixed chronic pain (not just low back pain). Population with muscoloskeletal pain in the back and neck/shoulder
Jensen 20111069The classes and modalities of the physical / exercise interventions are not reported
Jensen 20121065The classes and modalities of the physical / exercise interventions are not reported
Johnson 20101081Uninterpretable data
Kamali 20141102Inappropriate comparison. Intra-class combination rather than inter-class comparison
Kamper 20151103SR - used as source of references
Karjalainen 20031113Insufficient description of exercise intervention
Kaye 20151130Systematic review on epidurals. Incorrect interventions
Keijsers 19891131Includes back school in intervention arm
Kim 20131156Incorrect study design
Kim 20151162Mixed chronic pain (not just low back pain). Incorrect population (torture survivors)
Kizhakkeveettil 20141183SR - used as source of references
Klaber moffett 19861184Includes back school in intervention arm
Koc 20091193Incorrect interventions
Kool 20071217Incorrect interventions. Comparator group = back school excluded from protocol
Kumar 20091245Incorrect interventions. Intervention includes diathermy which is excluded
Kumar 20101247Incorrect interventions. Intervention includes diathermy which is excluded
Lambeek 20091264Process evaluation report within an RCT
Lee 20111300Moist heat Tx part of combi group
Lee 20141294Incorrect study design
Licciardone 20031325Tailored vs. control groups
Linden 20141333SIngle intervention. Included in psychological therapies review
Luedtke 20151375Incorrect interventions. Transcranial stimulation is not a suitable intervention for this review
Macedo 20081386Inappropriate comparison
Manniche 19881459Heat Tx part of combi Tx
Mannion 19991463Incorrect interventions
Matsudaira 20151481Not guideline condition
Moffett 20031543Incorrect study design (conference abstract)
Momsen 20141549The classes and modalities of the physical / exercise interventions are not reported
Murtezani 20151598Not guideline condition. Mixed chronic pain (not just low back pain). People with lumbar and thoracic pain
Nazzal 20131616Incorrect interventions. Intervention non reproducible due to lack of details (excluded after presentation of evidence at GDG)
Nochit 20141641Incorrect study design
Onat 20141679Incorrect interventions. Balneotherapy is not relevant to this review
Prommanon 20151791Incorrect interventions
Rantonen 20141821Not true combination arm: different forms of self-management (Back book education booklet + 1:1 information)
Reme 20091839No relevant outcomes reported
Roussel 20151878Not guideline condition. Healthy people at risk for low back pain
Rushton 20151889Incorrect population (post-surgery)
Schaafsma 20131929Cochrane review - used as source of references
Schenk 20121936Exercises in the comparison group tailored and not specified, just exercises according to the DP determined at initial visit
Schenkman 20091937Participants in each group had tailored Tx's, choice of various classes and modalities
Searle 20151959Incorrect interventions. SR on exercise (not combination).
Semrau 20151968Incorrect study design. Quasi-experimental study
Sokunbi 0g 20142041Not guideline condition. Mixed chronic pain (not just low back pain). Low back definition including gluteal fold and therefore sacroiliac joint
Stapelfeldt 20112068The classes and modalities of the physical / exercise interventions are not reported
Steenstra 20032071Protocol only, no outcomes. Study protocol
Storro 20042077Not enough detail of interventions used in control group (only gives health care professionals)
Streicher 20142081Incorrect study design
Szczurko 20072095Incorrect interventions. Dietary advice and relaxation techniques are part of the combination of intervention but are not relevant to our protocol
Tao 20052106Heat wrap in Tx combi arm, not on list of interventions
Turner 19882170Not combination treatment
Verwoerd 20152229Intervention not adequately described
Walker 20112273Cochrane review, used for reference list
Walti 20152276Incorrect interventions. Multimodal therapy arm consists of sensory and motor retraining, not relevant to this review
Waterworth 19852289Some participants has extra mechanical therapy
Yousefi-nooraie 20082385Cochrane review, used for references only
Zahari 20142392Physiotherapy was tailored to each person in both groups

L.14. Return to work programmes

As above.

L.15. Spinal injections

Table 14Studies excluded from the clinical review

StudyExclusion reason
Abdi 200540SR - used as source of references
Abdi 200741SR - used as source of references
Ackerman 200849Same intervention given to both groups
Al 199974conference abstract
Anon 20016conference abstract
Anon 20027conference abstract
Anon 201232Incorrect study design
Anwar 2005128Same intervention given in both groups (steroid vs. steroid)
Baeza-noci 2007168Incorrect study design. cohort study-non-protocol intervention: ozone therapy)
Balague 1996172Narrative review
Bartynski 2007187Incorrect study design. cohort study-single intervention
Bellini 2013201review article
Benyamin 2012212systematic review
Bernstein 2001224review article
Bicket 2013237SR - used as source of references
Blomberg 1992248Cortisone injections were given in combination with a number of other non-invasive treatments
Boezaart 1999260single agent trial
Bogduk 2005262Narrative review
Bogefeldt 2008266part of a program of treatments, not specifically injections
Boswell 2003279systematic review
Boswell 2005280SR - used as source of references
Bourne 2000283review
Briggs 2010288cohort study-single intervention
Brown 2012307Sacro-iliac joint injection
Buenaventura 2009321SR - used as source of references
Buttermann 2004336No randomization or comparator
Buttermann 2012335comment only
Cadth 2014345summary of abstracts
Cahana 2004346review article
Cakit 2007350Incorrect study design
Carreon 2008363SR - used as source of references
Cesare 2011567Same agent used in both groups (just compares different technique)
Chambers 2013376Narrative review
Chapman 1981386conference abstract
Choi 2013421SR - used as source of references
Chou 2009432SR - used as source of references
Cohen 2011462review article
Cohen 2013466SR - used as source of references
Conn 2009472SR - used as source of references
Coric 2013480Incorrect study design. Inflammatory causes of back pain (for example, ankylosing spondylitis or diseases of the viscera)
Costantino 2011482Non protocol intervention- mesotherapy
Covarrubias-gomez 2011484non-English study
Dagenais 2005505SR - used as source of references
Dagenais 2007507systematic review
Dagenais 2010506Review article
Dallas 1987511Crossover study
Das 2004519Incorrect study design
Datta 2009524SR - used as source of references
Datta 2009523SR - used as source of references
De oliveira magalhaes 2012532Wrong Tx - ozone therapy
Depalma 2009551cohort study-single intervention
Derby 2004552cohort study-non-protocol intervention
Friedman 2013703SR - used as source of references
Friedrich 2010704Narrative review
Fritzler 2011723review paper
Galiano 2007745Wrong comparison: ultrasound guided injection vs. CT controlled injection
Goodman 2008816review
Grewal 2012831Narrative review
Gupta 1987851Incorrect study design
Gupta 2012850Incorrect study design. cohort study-protocol outcomes not reported
Hanly 2000898Inflammatory causes of back pain (for example, ankylosing spondylitis or diseases of the viscera). cohort study
Hansen 2007900SR - used as source of references
Hansen 2012899SR - used as source of references
Henschke 2010941SR - used as source of references
Henschke 2012942Review article
Herskowitz 2004949conference abstract
Herskowitz 2004948Conference abstract
Hery 1987951conference abstract
Huda 2010992within-class comparison: steroid vs. steroid
Ikegami 20101010Wrong intervention: elcatonin
Inman 20041017Incorrect study design. cohort study-single intervention
Jabbari 20061032Incorrect study design. Pilot study-single intervention
Jabbari 20071033review paper
Jabbari 20081031Review of an RCT - we already have the full RCT published paper
Jabbari 20111034SR - used as source of references
Jensen 20111069systematic review
Jeynes 20081073SR - used as source of references
Kapural 20071110cohort study-single intervention
Karnezis 20081114review article
Kim 20041172SR - used as source of references
Kim 20101176Sacro-iliac joint injection
Kim 20131174cohort study-interclass comparison
Klein 20031185Incorrect study design. cohort-single intervention
Kroenke 20091235Review article
Lechmann 20131280cohort study-single intervention
Lee 20091288Same intervention in both groups (different doses)
Lee 20091296non-English study
Lee 20101289Incorrect study design. cohort study-single intervention
Lee 20101292Sacro-iliac joint injection. cohort study
Levin 20091310SR - used as source of references
Lierz 19971328Abstract
Lierz 20041327Wrong comparison: intra-class comparison (anesthetic vs. anesthetics)
Lilius 19901329Not review population. Prognostic data from an RCT previously included in the review
Loeser 20041357conference abstract
Loizides 20131359Same intervention in both groups (just compares different guidance methods)
Lu 20141374SR - used as source of references
Luukkainen 20021382Sacro-iliac joint injection
Luukkainen 20071381Overview of RCTs already published
Manchikanti 20001424Allocation of intervention was by patient choice. Incorrect study design. Sarapin - not licensed in UK
Manchikanti 20011423Incorrect interventions. Sarapin is not licensed in the UK
Manchikanti 20011425cohort study-incorrect intervention (Sarapin not licensed for use in the UK)
Manchikanti 20041445same drugs in both arms
Manchikanti 20081433includes patients suffering from radicular pain
Manchikanti 20081450SR - used as source of references
Manchikanti 20091427SR - used as source of references
Manchikanti 20091428SR - used as source of references
Manchikanti 20101439SR - used as source of references
Manchikanti 20121429systematic review
Manchikanti 20121443Incorrect study design. cohort study: no intervention reported
Manchikanti 20121442cohort study-does not report interventions
Manchikanti 20131426SR / guidelines - used as source of references
Manchikanti 20141430Further discussion of a previously published trial, which we already have looked at for this review
Manchikanti 20141421SR - used as source of references
Manchikanti 20151444Data from previous published trials already included in the review
Mandel 20131454cohort study-incorrect population
Marks 19921471same steroid injected in both groups
Mckenzie-brown 20051508SR - used as source of references
Mcquay 19971510SR - used as source of references
Miyakoshi 20071538interclass comparison
Moskovich 19961578Narrative review
Murakami 20071593cohort study-incorrect population: Sacroiliac joint pain
Murakami 20081594Incorrect study design. cohort study-incorrect population: sacroiliac joint pain
Nachtnebel 20091601SR - used as source of references
Nagarajan 20071602Incorrect study design. cohort study-single intervention
Nampiaparampil 20121608review article
Naumann 20081614Review article
Ney 20061629Incorrect study design. cohort study-single intervention
Oh 20041665Radiofrequency lesioning is an approved “other treatment” in this guideline only in facet joints. RF in this study was non-facet joint
Orozco 20111684Incorrect study design. cohort study-single intervention
Pach 20111696Wrong intervention: verum (homeopathy)
Paoloni 20091703does not include intervention specified in protocol
Paradiso 20051707cohort study-non-protocol intervention: oxygen-ozone
Parr 20091723SR - used as source of references
Parr 20121724SR - used as source of references
Paz-valinas 20061736non-protocol treatment
Peng 20101739Wrong intervention: methylene blue
Perry 19941752review piece
Peterson 20101760SR - used as source of references. review article
Quinet 19791798Review article
Qureshi 20131800Same intervention in both groups
Rabago 20051803SR - used as source of references
Radcliff 20121807cohort study-incorrect population (Sciatica only)
Raffaeli 20061810Wrong intervention: morphine
Revel 19981844prognostic study and does not report outcomes other than immediately post injection.
Reverberi 20051845cohort-Radiofrequency denervation was not in facet joint
Ribeiro 20131847Wrong comparison: intra class (steroid vs. steroid)
Rivest 19981858cohort study-both groups received same intervention'
Rocha 20141860No comparator group
Rupert 20091886SR - used as source of references
Scott 20091957SR - used as source of references
Shin 20131989Wrong comparison: different needles compared
Shin 20151990Wrong intervention- discectomy followed by injection. Unclear if injections for surgical pain or non-specific low back pain
Singh 20132004SR - used as source of references
Slipman 20032024SR - used as source of references
Spiker 20122051SR - used as source of references
Staal 20082058SR - used as source of references
Staal 20092057SR - used as source of references
Staal 20132060Narrative review
Straube 20132079SR - used as source of references
Subin 20032083No outcomes of interest reported
Tobinick 20042141Mixed chronic pain (not just low back pain). cohort study
Tonkovich-quaranta 20002144review article
Tran 20002150Incorrect study design
Uyttendaele 19812184Incorrect study design. cohort study-no intervention details given
Wald 20142270Incorrect study design. -cohort study(single intervention)
Waseem 20112285cochrane review
White 20072312Incorrect study design. cohort study-incorrect population: mixed LBP and neck
Williams 19892332Incorrect study design
Williams 20072328cohort study-same intervention in both groups
Wittenberg 20012344Not interventions of interest
Wong 20102346review paper
Wu 20092352Wrong interventions: collagenase + oxygen ozone vs. surgery
Yang 19942367Wrong intervention: oxytocin
Yelland 20002375review article
Yelland 20042376SR - used as source of references
Yelland 2004A2377Incorrect intervention. Participants randomized to both injections and exercise intervention
Zakaria 20072393SR - used as source of references
Zelle 20052396review article
Zhang 20112401SR - used as source of references
Zhuang 20082406Wrong intervention: herbal injection + acupuncture

L.16. Radiofrequency denervation

Table 15Studies excluded from the clinical review

StudyExclusion reason
Anon 201433Not an RCT
Babur 1994165Review article
Banerjee 1976174Incorrect study design. Mixed chronic pain (not just low back pain)
Barendse 2001179Wrong population: not just facet joint pain
Birkenmaier 2007241Wrong comparison: diagnostic blocks compared
Bogduk 2000264Cost-effectiveness analysis with no clinical data
Boswell 2007278SR - used as source of references
Buijs 2004326Wrong comparisons: RF denervation by temperature vs. voltage
Calodney 2004352Review article
Cho 1997420Incorrect study design. case-series
Cohen 2010464Incorrect interventions. Inappropriate comparison. Compares RF denervation after 0, 1 or 2 Dx blocks
Cohen 2014465Erratum to previously published study
Derby 2013555Incorrect study design. Compares RF denervation after 0, 1 or 2 Dx blocks. Incorrect interventions. Inappropriate comparison
Dobrogowski 2005580Patients randomised to different corticosteroids with their RF denervation.
Duger 2012600Pulsed radiofrequency (not an denervation procedure)
Duse 2009606Abstract
Falco 2012646Systematic review - used as source of references
Falco 2012647Systematic review - used as source of references
Falco 2012645Systematic review - used as source of references
Florez 1977678Incorrect study design
Gocer 1997804Incorrect study design
Gofeld 2006809Letter to editor
Hashemi 2014909Pulsed radiofrequency (not an denervation procedure)
Hickey 1977954Incorrect study design
Joo 20131090Incorrect interventions. Wrong comparison: alcohol denervation
Klessinger 20131187Incorrect study design
Kroll 20081236Wrong comparison: continuous RF vs. pulsed RF
Lakemeier 20131258Wrong population: patients had to have facet joint osteoarthritis
Leggett 20141303Systematic review - used as source of references
Li 20141321Inflammatory causes of back pain (for example, ankylosing spondylitis or diseases of the viscera). Serious spinal pathology (for example, neoplasms, infections or osteoporotic collapse). Mixed chronic pain (not just low back pain)
Lindner 20061334Incorrect study design
Lu 20121371Incorrect study design. Wrong comparison: conventional RF vs. pulsed RF
Maas 20151383,1383Systematic review – used as source for references
Melzer 19991516Incorrect study design
Melzer 19991517Incorrect study design
Moon 20131558Wrong comparison: RF distal approach vs. RF tunnel approach
Nedelka 20141618Not an RCT (retrospective cohort)
Niemisto 20031636Systematic review - used as source of references
Ogsbury 19771663Incorrect study design
Park 20061713Incorrect study design
Park 20101708Wrong comparison: RF by CT guidance vs. RF by C-arm guidance
Poetscher 20141776Systematic review - used as source of references
Proschek 20101792Incorrect study design. Wrong comparison: RF by fluoroscopic guidance vs. RF by SabreSource image guidance system
Rashbaum 19831822Incorrect study design
Sanders 19991909Wrong comparison: Intraarticular RF vs. extraarticular RF
Schmid 19991941Incorrect study design
Sheldon 19861981Incorrect study design
Van 20052217Unable to obtain paper
Van wijk 20082214Incorrect study design
Zhang 20092400Unable to obtain paper

L.17. Epidural injections for sciatica

Table 16Studies excluded from the clinical review

StudyExclusion reason
Abram 199744SR - used as source of references
Ackerman 200748Wrong comparison: compares different routes not interventions
Ahadian 201163Wrong comparison: compares different doses of the same interventions
Amr 2011105Wrong ibntervention: ketamine (not in our protocol)
Anderberg 2007107Incorrect stratum. Cervical radicular pain
Andersen 1987109Incorrect study design
Anon 200410Article unavailable
Anon 201232Incorrect stratum. Incorrect study design
Anon 201435Incorrect stratum. Epidurals: review of previously published trial with wrong comparison (intra-class)
Anwar 2005128Same intervention class in both arms
Aref 2011136Wrong comparison: compares different volumes of the same intervention
Aronsohn 2010141Included inthe spinal decompression review
Atlas 2015153Epidurals: Commentary on previously published trial that has alerady been included in our review (Friedly 2014)
Becker 2007195Wrong intervention: ACS/orthokine not licensed in UK
Bellini 2013201SR - used as source of refernces
Benny 2011210SR - used as source of references
Benoist 2012211SR of SRs
Benyamin 2012213Incorrect stratum. SR
Benzon 1986215SR - used as source of references
Bergeron 1999218Incorrect stratum. Wrong population: not sciatica
Block 2012246Commentary only
Borms 1988275Wrong route of administration - intramuscular not epidural
Bui 2013325SR - used as source of references
Burgher 2011328Wrong comparison: clonidine (outside our protocol)
Buttermann 2004336Incorrect study design
Buttermann 2012335Unable to obtain study
Byun 2014341Wrong comparison: within class
Candido 2008356Wrong comparison: different route of administration
Castagnera 1994368Incorrect stratum. Cervical pain, not LBP
Chang-chien 2014382SR - used as source of referenecs
Chapman 1981386Incorrect stratum. Abstract only
Choi 2013421SR - uesd as source of references
Chou 2015429Epidurals: SR - used as source of references
Cocelli 2009457Wrong comparison: intra-class
Cohen 2007461Electronic citation of a trial
Cohen 2010464Wrong interventions and comparisons. Incorrect stratum
Cohen 2012467Wrong comparison: image guided vs. non-image guided
Cohen 2013466SR - used as source of references
Cohen 2015463Incorrect stratum. inappropiate comparison
Dallas 1987511Crossover study
Dashfield 2005522Wrong comparison: different routes of administration
Depalma 2005550SR - used as source of references
Dilke 1973574Wrong tratment: no epidural arm
Dreyfuss 2006595Incorrect stratum. Cervical pain
Engel 2014624SR - used as source of references
Evansa 2015641Epidurals: Wrong population: includes spondylolisthesis pts
Friedman 2008702Wrong intervention: intramuscular not epidural
Galhom 2013744Incorrect stratum. Wrong compariosn: different routes of administration
Gelalis 2009768Wrong comparison: different routes of administration
Gerszten 2010775Included in the spinal decomrpession review for sciatica
Ghahreman 2011776Wrong study design: predictors of response from another RCT (we have already included the RCT)
Ghai 2013778Wrong comparison: intra-class
Ghai 2014777Wrong comaprison: different routes of administration
Gharibo 2011779Wrong comparison: compares different routes of administration
Grayson 2012826Letter
Grevsten 1975830Not our guideline condition
Gupta 1987851Incorrect study design
Gupta 2014852Wrong comparison: different routes of administration
Haimovic 1986876Wrog intervention: oral (not epidural) steroid
Hashemi 2015908Wrong comparison: intra-class
Hee 2007927Wrong comparison: compares different routes of administration
Hery 1987951Abstract
Iversen 20111030Wrong comparison: subcutaneous saline. Data for the correct comaprison arm (3rd arm = epidural saline) has not been reported.
Jee 20131059Incorrect stratum. Cervical pain
Kang 20111106Wrong comparison: intra-class comparison
Kawu 20121129Incorrect study design. Case-series/before and after
Khan 20101148Unable to obtain paper
Kim 20111170Wrong comparison: hyaluronidase (off protocol)
Kim 20111153Wrong comparison: intra-class
Kim 20131171Wrong comprison: steroid after balloon treatment vs. steroid without balloon treatment
Kloth 20111189Incorrect stratum. Cervical pain
Koh 20131205Wrong comparison: intra-class
Kolsi 20001209Incorrect stratum. Sciatica or femoral neuralgia
Lee 20091290Incorrect stratum. Cervical pain
Lee 20131299Incorrect stratum. Cervical pain
Lierz 19971328Abstract
Lierz 20041327Wrong comparison: intra-class (anaesthetic vs. anaesthetic)
Macvicar 20131396SR - used as source of references
Maity 20121407Wrong comparison: epidural opioid
Manchikanti 20081447Incorrect stratum. Hernia OR radiculitis (written in methods section)
Manchikanti 20101436Incorrect stratum. Cervical pain
Manchikanti 20111448Incorrect stratum. Hernia OR radiculitis (written in methods section)
Manchikanti 20121434Inlcuded in spinal injections review - not sciatica population
Manchikanti 20121437Incorrect stratum. Cervical pain
Manchikanti 20121429SR - used as source of references
Manchikanti 20121431Preliminary data from only 60 patients in the trial
Manchikanti 20131422HE analysis only
Manchikanti 20131435Inlcuded in spinal injections review - not sciatica population
Manchikanti 20131438Incorrect stratum. Cervical pain
Manchikanti 20131449Incorrect stratum. Mixed population - hernia OR sciatica (50% sciatica)
Manchikanti 20141421SR - used as source of references
Mcgregor 20011503Wrong comparisons: different routes of administration
Murata 20091595Treatment is a block of the nerve for back pain, not for the sciatica (leg pain)
Ng 20041630Cohort study. Incorrect study design
Ngai 20141631Epidurals: Short review of previously published trial
Ohtori 20121670Wrong population: spondyliosis or spondylisthesis
Ohtori 20121667Wrong population: spondylitis or spondylisthesis
Okoro 20101672Wrong administration route: subcutaneous not epidural
Owlia 20071690Wrong comparison: different doese of steroid
Park 20101710Wrong comparison: intra-class
Park 20131709Wrong intrevention: epidural morphine
Park 20131714Incorrect stratum. Wrong population: sacroiliac arthritis
Pasqualucci 20071725Incorrect stratum. cervical pain
Pérez 19921747Abstract. In Italian
Pimentel 20141768SR - used as source of references
Pinto 20121772SR - used as source of references
Pirbudak 20031773Wrong intervention and comparison: both arms contain oral agents
Quraishi 20121799SR - used as source of references
Rados 20111809Wrong comparison: different routes of administration
Rados 20131808Wrong comparison: different routes of administration
Rastogi 19941826Incorrect stratum. Wrong population: some without sciatica, some with spondylosis and spondylolisthesis
Revel 19961842Incorrect stratum. Wrong population: sciatica from post-operative lumbar spinal stenosis
Reverberi 20051845Incorrect study design
Rezende 20151846Wrong comparison: intra-class
Ridley 19881850Crossover study
Sayegh 20091927Incorrect stratum
Sayle-creer 19691928Incorrect study design
Schuermans 19881952Wrong route of administration: intramuscular not epidural
Shamliyan 20141974SR - used as source of references
Song 19952042Incorrect interventions
Tauheed 20142108Wrong comparison: clonidine (not in protocol) in the 2 comparator arms
Thomas 20032126Wrong comparison: different route of administration
Vad 20022185Not true randomised study - randomised by patient choice (written in the abstract)
Valat 20062187SR - used as source of references
Van zundert 20092216Narrative
Veihelmann 20062223Wrong intervention: epidural neuroplasty
Walker 19982271Conference abstract
Waseem 20112285SR - used as source of references
Weiner 20122302Commentary
Wewalka 20122309Incorrect study design
Whynes 20122314HE analysis. Incorrect stratum
Williams 20132327Incorrect stratum. Irrelevant review
Wilson-macdonald 20052341Wrong comparison: intramuscular injection of steroid + anesthetic (not in our protocol) vs. epidural steroid
Wu 20152351Incorrect stratum. wrong comparison - nucleoplasty
Yates 19782371Incorrect stratum. Crossover study
Yosry 20082384Wrong comparison: image-guided vs. non-image guided arms

L.18. Surgery and prognostic factors

Table 17Studies excluded from the clinical review

ReferenceReason for exclusion
Abramovitz et al., 199145Multivariable analysis not adjusted for key confounder
Adogwa et al, 201255Incorrect study design: presentation
Adogwa et al, 201454Multivariable analysis not adjusted for key confounder and no relevant outcomes reported
Ahn et al, 200968No relevant prognostic factors reported
Anderson et al,2009117Incorrect population: neck/cervical patients
Anderson 2015116Wrong population: mixed population of lumabr fusion patients - some had spondylolisthesis and spondylosis
Basler et al, 2007190Univariate study
Bernard et al, 1993222Univariate study
Bieliauskas et al, 1994238Incorrect population: greater than 30% of population with failed back surgery
Carreon 2009364Incorrect study design :Letter to editor
Chang et al, 2005381Univariate study
Chou et al, 2011426Systematic review: references checked for relevant studies
Christensen et al, 1996442Incorrect population: greater than 30% of population with Spondylolisthesis
Cook 2015476
Deberard et al, 2002536Univariate study
Dewing et al, 2008561Univariate study
Deutsch 2010,559Univariate study
Djurasovic et al, 2011579Multivariable analysis not adjusted for key confounder and no relevant prognostic factor reported no relevant prognostic factor reported
Djurasovic et al, 2012578No relevant prognostic factor reported
El Barzouhi et al, 2013618Univariate study
Espersen et al, 1984636Univariate study
Fisher et al,2004673No relevant prognostic factor reported: pain and disability score together
Graver ET AL, 199945Multivariable analysis not adjusted for key confounder
Greenough et al,1994829Incorrect population: greater than 30% of population with failed back surgery and Spondylolisthesis
Hagg et al, 2003869No multiple variable analysis reported for outcomes specified in the protocol
Havakeshian 2013914Incorrect study design: presentation with no relevant prognostic factor reported
Hee et al, 2003926No relevant prognostic factor reported
Herno 1995947Incorrect population: greater than 30% of population with failed back surgery
Herno,A 1995947Incorrect study design: thesis with no relevant outcomes reported
Hodges et al, 2001974Univariate study
Jonsson et al, 19971089No relevant prognostic factor reported
Junge et al,19961092Univariate study
Kagaya et al, 20051095Univariate study
Katz eta l, 19971119Univariate study
Katz et al, 19991120Multivariable analysis not adjusted for key confounder
Kim et al, 20141161No independent analysis of the effect of the prognostic factor reported
Kim et al, 20151160No relevant outcomes reported in the study
Kleinstueck et al, 20111186Multivariable analysis not adjusted for key confounder and no relevant prognostic factor reported
Kohlboeck et al, 20041207Univariate study
Komori et al, 20021211Univariate study
Kosteljanetz et al, 19841222Univariate study
Kuittinen et al, 20141241Multivariable analysis not adjusted for key confounder and no relevant prognostic factor reported
Kumar et al, 20011243Univariate study
Lewis et al, 19871316No relevant prognostic factor reported
Long et al, 19801364Univariate study
Loupasis et al, 19991369Univariate study
Manniche et al, 19941458Univariate study
Mariconda et al, 20061467Multivariable analysis not adjusted for key confounder and no relevant prognostic factor reported
Marshman et al, 20101474Univariate study
McGregor et al, 20021504Univariate study
Melgar et al, 20141515No relevant prognostic factor reported
Moore et al, 19941561Univariate study
Motiei-Langroudi et al, 20141581Univariate study
Nygaard et al, 19941652Univariate study
Nguyen et al, 20111632No relevant outcomes reported
Ronnberg et al, 20071872Univariate study
Santavirta et al, 19961912Univariate study
Sedighi et al, 20141961No relevant prognostic factors reported
Shi et al, 20121985Univariate study
Sigmundsson et al, 20141997No relevant prognostic factor reported
Sinikallio et al, 20092009Multivariable analysis not confounded for key confounder
Sinigaglia et al, 20092008No relevant prognostic factor reported
Soroceanu et al, 20122047Multivariable analysis not adjusted for key confounder and no relevant prognostic factor reported
Taylor et al,20002113Multivariable analysis not adjusted for key confounder
Tsai et al, 20072159No relevant outcomes reported for prognostic factor
Vialle 20152230Wrong population: degenrative disorders of lumbar spine (unclear what this includes and if sciatica only)
Voorhies et al, 20072256Multivariable analysis not adjusted for key confounder
Willems et al,20072325Multivariable analysis not adjusted for key confounder and no relevant prognostic factor reported no relevant prognostic factor reported
Willems 20132324Incorrect study design: thesis with no relevant prognostic factor reported

L.19. Disc replacement

Table 18Studies excluded from the clinical review

StudyExclusion reason
Aghayev 201060Incorrect interventions. Inappropriate comparison. Intraclass comparison
Aghayev 201458Incorrect study design. Case series (order cancelled)
Aghayev 201459Incorrect study design. Case series
Ahrens 200969Incorrect study design. Case series
Andrade 2013123Non-systematic review; non relevant to review question
Anekstein 2015125Not guideline condition. Mixed chronic pain (not just low back pain). Incorrect population: spondylolisthesis
Anon 200411SR - used as source of references
Anon 200514SR - used as source of references
Anon 200725Systematic review: literature search not sufficiently rigorous. SR - used as source of references
Assaker 2015146Not review population. Includes people with spondylolisthesis. Inappropriate comparison. No comparator
Bao 2007176Incorrect study design. Case series; pre-clinical studies
Berg 2011216Incorrect study design. Thesis
Berlemann 2009220Incorrect study design. Incorrect interventions. Case series; nucleus replacement
Bernsmann 2001223Incorrect interventions. Inappropriate comparison. Fat graft vs no fat graft for laminectomy
Bertagnoli 2005228Incorrect study design. Case series
Bertagnoli 2006226Inappropriate comparison. Incorrect interventions. All had total disc arthroplasty; comparison of smokers vs non smokers. . Not guideline condition. Spondylosis population
Bertagnoli 2006225Incorrect study design. Case series
Bertagnoli 2006227Incorrect study design. Case series
Blondel 2011252Incorrect study design. Case series
Blumenthal 2003255Incorrect study design. Incorrect interventions. Case series; same implant at different levels
Blumenthal 2005254Not review population. People with back and/or leg pain
Botelho 2008282Incorrect study design
Bronsard 2011298Incorrect study design. Case series
Cakir 2009349Incorrect study design. Case series
Chung 2006447Incorrect study design. Case series
Daneyemez 1999516Incorrect study design. Case series
David 1993526Incorrect study design. Case series
De kleuver 2003531SR - used as source of references
Delamarter 2003542Incorrect study design. Abstract. Not review population. People with Back and/or leg pain
Delamarter 2005541Incorrect study design. Abstract. Not review population. People with Back and/or leg pain
Delamarter 20112409Not review population. People with back and/or leg (radicular) pain
Di silvestre 2009570Incorrect interventions. Inappropriate comparison. 2 level vs 1 level disc replacement
Errico 2004634Incorrect study design. Narrative review
Freeman 2006697SR - used as a source of references
Gamradt 2005747SR - used as a source of references
Geisler 2004763Not review population. People with back and/or leg pain
Geisler 2008764Not review population. People with back and/or leg pain
Goins 2005811Incorrect study design. Narrative review
Griffith 1994833Incorrect study design. Case series
Hagg 2006870Fusion vs non surgical treatment. Incorrect interventions. Inappropriate comparison
Hakkinen 2007877Incorrect study design. Case series
Health quality ontario 2006922SR - used as a source of references
Huang 2004989Incorrect study design. Narrative review
Huang 2005990Incorrect study design. Case series
Huang 2006991Incorrect study design. Case series
Ilharreborde 20051011Incorrect study design. Abstract only
Jacobs 20131039SR - used as source of references
Jensen 19961071Inappropriate comparison. Incorrect interventions. Free fat transplantation vs no free fat transplantation in laminectomy
Jin 20031075Incorrect study design. Case series
Kagaya 20051095Inappropriate comparison. Incorrect interventions. Quality of life before vs after surgery
Kasliwal 20121117Incorrect study design. Case series
Katsimihas 20101118Incorrect study design. Case series
Kim 20031175Not guideline condition. Incorrect study design. People with neurologic disturbance (neurogenic intermittent claudication) and/or severe back pain. Case series
Kim 20071155Incorrect study design. Case series
Kishen 20101181SR - used as source of references
Lazennec 20141273Incorrect study design. Case series (order was cancelled)
Le huec 20051275Incorrect study design. Case series
Le huec 20051274Incorrect study design. Case series
Leckie 20091281Incorrect study design. Narrative review
Lee 20141285Incorrect study design. Case series
Lemcke 20101305Not review population. Incorrect interventions. Low back pain and/or persisting pain radiating to lower extremities. Nucleoplasty vs disc decompressor
Levin 20071308Not review population. People with primarily back and/or radicular pain
Levine 20001311Not guideline condition. Mixed chronic pain (not just low back pain). Incorrect study design. Narrative review
Lu 20151373Incorrect study design. Case series
Lu 20151372No comparator arm. Incorrect study design
Maestretti 20111400Incorrect study design. Case series
Magnussen 20111402Incorrect study design. Commentary and abstract
Markwalder 20111472Incorrect study design. Case series (order was cancelled)
Matejka 20121477Article in Czech (order was cancelled)
Mayer 20021485Not guideline condition. Mixed chronic pain (not just low back pain). Inflammatory causes of back pain (for example, ankylosing spondylitis or diseases of the viscera). Incorrect study design. Case series
Mcafee 20031494Not guideline condition. Some patients had spondylosis
Mcafee 20031495Not guideline condition. Some patients had spondylosis, leg or back pain
Mcafee 20031491Incorrect study design. Narrative review and case report
Mcafee 20041493Incorrect study design. Narrative review
Mcafee 20071492Incorrect study design. Not guideline condition. Mixed chronic pain (not just low back pain). Case series
Mostofi 20151580Incorrect study design. Case series
Mundy 20031591Incorrect study design. Narrative review
Ohnmeiss 20101666Not guideline condition. Incorrect study design. Some patients had spondylolisthesisPost hoc analysis of RCTs
Park 20121711Incorrect study design. Case series
Parkinson 20131721Wrong population: LBP and OR sciatica (some pts had sciatica only). Incorrect study design. Not review population
Parkinson 20131720Not guideline condition. People with axial back pain and/or radicular pain
Pimenta 20101767Incorrect study design (cohort)
Pimenta 20121766Inappropriate comparison. Intra-class comparison of different nucleus replacement devices
Puolakka 20081796Not guideline condition. Incorrect study design. Back pain and/or muscle weakness. Case series
Rainey 20121813Incorrect stydy design (cohort)
Resnick 20071841Incorrect study design. Narrative review
Rischke 20151855Not review population. Unclear intervention population inclusion criteria. Not Define
Ross 20071875Incorrect study design. Case series
Sasani 20091917Incorrect study design. Case series
Sasso 20071920Not guideline condition. Not review population
Sasso 20081918Not guideline condition. Cervical arthroplasty
Sasso 20111921Not guideline condition. Cervical disc herniations or spondylosis
Schluessmann 20091940Inappropriate comparison. Intra-class comparison: monosegmental vs bisegmental total disc arthroplasty
Schoenfeld 20111946Incorrect study design. Commentary
Schroven 20061951Cohort study
Selviaridis 20101967Not guideline condition. Incorrect study design. Low back pain and/or sciatica. Case series
Siepe 20081995Inappropriate comparison
Siepe 20091996Incorrect study design. Case series
Siepe 20141994Case series (order was cancelled). Incorrect study design
Silber 20061999Not guideline condition. Cervical degenerative disease
Sinigaglia 20092008Inappropriate comparison. Intra-class comparison
Tepper 20062118Abstract only
Thavaneswaran 20142123SR - used as source of references
Trincat 20152152Incorrect study design. Case series (order was cancelled)
Tropiano 20032156Incorrect study design. Case series
Tropiano 20052154Incorrect study design. Case series
Tropiano 20062155Incorrect study design. Article of description of surgical technique
Trouillier 20062157Incorrect study design. Case series
Tsou 20042162Incorrect study design. Case series
Tumialan 20102167Incorrect study design (cohort)
Van de kelft 20122189Incorrect study design. Case series
Van den eerenbeemt 20102190Systematic review: methods are not adequate/unclear. Ordered to identify any relevant paper
Vital 20142249Incorrect study design. Narrative review
Vlayen 20062251Ordered for identification of any relevant studies
Yaszay 20082370Incorrect study design. Case series/post-hoc analysis of one arm only of an RCT
Zhang 20092404Incorrect study design. Case series
Zigler 20042411Not review population. People with back and/or leg pain
Zigler 20072407Not review population. People with back and/or leg (radicular) pain

L.20. Spinal fusion

Table 19Studies excluded from the clinical review

StudyExclusion reason
Abbott 201138incorrect population: LBP population with or without Sciatica or Sciatica only
Allen 200996Review of literature
Andersen 2003111intra-class comparison
Andersen 2008113intra-class comparison
Andersen 2009112intra-class comparison
Andersson 2006122systematic review
Anon 200411NICE guideline with no references
Anon 200514unable to obtain article
Anon 200622technology assessment: review of literature
Arnold 2009139single intervention study
Azzazi 2010164incorrect comparison and intra-class comparison
Berg 2011216incorrect population
Bjarke christensen 2002243intra-class comparison
Blumenthal 2005254incorrect population: Patients with or without sciatica
Bogduk 1000263review
Botelho 2008282Letter in response to an excluded study
Bradley 2012284Single intervention study. single intervention
Burkus 2002329intra-class comparison
Bydon 2014338systematic review
Carreon 2008363systematic review
Chaudhary 2011392systematic review
Choma 2011424systematic review
Chou 2009428Review of literature
Chou 2014427Incorrect population: patients with burst fractures
Christensen 2002441intra-class comparison
Christensen 2004440review as part of a book
Christensen 2014439intra-class comparison
Dahdaleh 2013509intra-class comparison
Daubs 2011525systematic review
Delamarter 20112409incorrect population: only Sciatica population
Deyo 2005564protocol only; paper now published
Dong 2014586intra-class comparison
El shazly 2013621incorrect comparison: intra-class and recurrent herniation population
Fayssoux 2010654health economic study
Freeman 2007695intra-class comparison
Freeman 2007696health economic study
Fritzell 2000720item not ordered
Fritzell 2002721intra-class comparison
Fritzell 2002718intra-class comparison
Fritzell 2003719intra-class comparison
Fritzell 2004722heath economic study
Geisler 2007766incorrect population: Patients with or without sciatica
Geisler 2008765incorrect population: Patients with or without sciatica
Gibson 1999787Cochrane review
Guo 2007848item not ordered: non-English paper
Guyer 2009854incorrect population: Patients with or without sciatica
Hacker 1997858intra-class comparison
Haid 2004873intra-class comparison
Hayes 2012918intra-class comparison
Hoy 2013986intra-class comparison
Hurlbert 2013994intra-class comparison
Ibrahim 20081008meta-analysis
Inamdar 20061013intra-class comparison
Jacobs 20121041Cochrane review
Jacobs 20131039systematic review
Kai 20141097intra-class comparison
Karabekir 20081111incorrect comparison: intra-class
Kasis 20091116Incorrect population: patients with spondylolisthesis included
Katz 19971119incorrect population: patients with sciatica only included
Kersten 20141143intra-class comparison
Kim 20061164intra-class comparison
Kim 20151157incorrect population: only Sciatica population
Korovessis 20121220intra-class comparison
Korsgaard 20021221intra-class comparison
Kwon 20061252Review of literature
Lee 20151301Cohort study- sufficient RCT evidence available for fusion versus other types of surgery comparison
Lee 20151293Incorrect population: neck and spine fusion surgery reported together
Liu 20141351meta-analysis
Malmivaara 20071416Intra-class comparison: combination surgery in one arm
Malmivaara 20071415incorrect comparison: segmental decompression and facetectomy plus fusion versus non operative treatment
Manchikanti 20131432incorrect intervention: adhesiolysis
Manchikanti 20151452systematic review-used to check for references
Mannion 20131464review
Mannion 20141462Review of literature
Mayer 20141487systematic review
Mcgirt 20151502Cohort study- sufficient RCT evidence available for fusion versus other types of surgery comparison
Mirza 20071535systematic review
Mirza 20131536incorrect intervention: combination of studies
Mroz 20111584Review of literature
Nordin 20061645Review of literature
North American spine society board of directors 20031647protocol only
Noshchenko 20141649systematic review
Ohtori 20111668intra-class comparison
Park 20101712incorrect intervention: laminectomy
Parker 20121715incorrect population
Parkinson 20131721health economic study
Phillips 20131764literature review
Putzier 20091797incorrect population and intra-class comparison
Qureshi 20131801heath economic study
Rischke 20151855Cohort study- sufficient RCT evidence available for fusion versus other types of surgery comparison
Saltychev 20141903meta-analysis
Sasso 20041919intra-class comparison
Sasso 20071920incorrect population
Shen 20141982intra-class comparison
Shin 20091988incorrect population and combination comparison
Shunwu 20101993intra-class comparison
Silber 20021998Review of literature
Singh 20072005incorrect intervention
Slatis 20112022incorrect population: patients with spondylolisthesis included
Soegaard 20062037systematic review
Soegaard 20072036health economic study
Soegaard 20072038health economic study
Sogaard 20082040health economic study
Takeshima 20002102Abstract
Thavaneswaran 20142123systematic review
Thomsen 19972135incorrect population and intra-class comparison
Tian 20132139meta-analysis
Van den eerenbeemt 20102190systematic review
Van der schaaf 19992195incorrect population: greater than 30% of patients were failed back surgery cases
Videbaek 20062240intra-class comparison
Videbaek 20062239intra-class comparison
Virk 20122246Health economics study
Wang 20142281meta-analysis-used as source of references
Weinstein 20082303Incorrect intervention: laminectomy
Willems 20132323systematic review
Xie 20072353incorrect comparison: combination treatment
Yang 20152368Incorrect population: spondylolisthesis and neurogenic claudication population included
Zdeblick 19932395single intervention review
Zigler 20032408incorrect population: includes Sciatica only population
Zigler 20072407incorrect population: includes Sciatica only population
Zigler 20122410incorrect population: includes Sciatica only population

L.21. Spinal decompression

Table 20Studies excluded from the clinical review

StudyExclusion reason
Adogwa 201253Wrong population: segment disease
Adogwa 201352Wrong intervention: revision surgery - not in our scope
Ahn 200067Wrong population
Akagi 201070Not sciatica
Alaranta 198677Not answer the question - Treatment after surgery
Alfieri 201288SR - used ass source of references
Ali 201392Wrong population: back or neck pain, not all sciatica
Al-khalaf 200375Does not answer the question: Treatment post- surgery
Allen 199095Intra-class comparison: automated versus manual discectomy
Almadni 201098Abstract
Amoretti 2013103Does not answer the question: compares surgery (one type) in 2 different groups of patients
Amundsen 2000106Wrong interventions: mixed types of surgery
Andersson 2006121Letter
Anon 200411Guideline; wrong intervention
Anon 200521SR - used as source of references
Anon 200520Not in English
Anon 200725SR - used as source of references
Arai 2014133Cohort study, but intra-class comparison
Aronsohn 2010141Unable to obtain article
Arts 2011143Letter
Arts 2013142Review
Atlas 1996155Cohort study, but already have sufficient RCT data in the review for this comparison (discectomy vs. UC)
Atlas 1996154Cohort study, but already have sufficient RCT data in the review for this comparison (discectomy vs. UC)
Atlas 2000156Cohort study, but already have sufficient RCT data in the review for this comparison (discectomy vs. UC)
Atlas 2005157Cohort study, but already have sufficient RCT data in the review for this comparison (discectomy vs. UC)
Atlas 2005158Cohort study, but already have sufficient RCT data in the review for this comparison (discectomy vs. UC)
Atlas 2010159Subgroup analysis of SPORT trial (already included main data in review). Subgroups irrelevant to review question.
Awad 2006162SR - used as source of references
Baek 2012166Wrong population: no mention of sciatica - just all hernia patients
Banken 2005175SR - used as source of references
Barth 2008184intra-class comparison
Barth 2008185intra-class comparison
Bernstein 2001224SR - used as source of references
Beyer 2013234Incorrect stratum. Not sciatica population
Birkmeyer 1999242SR - used as source of references
Boden 2014259Abstract
Bogduk 2002265Incorrect stratum. Not sciatica pts.
Bohmfalk 1991267Letter
Bokov 2010268Wrong comparison: nucleoplasty
Boswell 2007281SR - used as source of references
Brouwer 2009303Study protocol
Brouwer 2015302covered by NICE interventional procedures guidance 357 (2010)
Brown 2012307wrong comparison: sacroiliac joint injection (not in our scope)
Brox 2010310Wrong population: not sciatica
Butterman 2004 337No relevant outcomes reported
Bydon 2013339SR. Wrong condition - cysts
Carey 2005358Short article / Review
Celik 2010-1374Intra-class comparison
Chen 2015394Not answer the question: Treatment post-surgery
Chitragran 2012416Wrong intervention: nucleoplasty
Cho 2007417incorrect comparison: intra-class comparison
Choi 2014422incorrect intervention: decompression therapy (non-surgical)
Chopko 2013425Not sciatica population
Chou 2009433Guideline
Chou 2009430Guideline
Crawshaw 1984490Wrong comparison: chemonucleolysis
Crockett 2014492Unable to obtain article
Dagenais 2010506Guideline
Daneyemez 1999516Incorrect study design. Case-series
Dasenbrock 2012521SR/MA - intra-class comparison
De seze 2013534Incorrect study design. Case-series
Dedering 2004537Wrong comparison: intra-class
Deinsberger 2006539Wrong population: spinal cysts
Demircan 1992546Abstract
Derby 2008553Review article
Don 2008584Review article
Dora 2002588Does not answer the question: not Treatment
Dubourg 2002598Does not answer the question: not at Treatment study
Dvorak 1988607Cohort study but groups irrelevant to review question: people with pension vs. no pension
Ebenbichler 2015611Does not answer the question: Treatment post-surgery
Ecri 2004612Unable to obtain article
Ecri 2005613paper could not be sourced
Eichen 2014615SR - used as source of references
Ejeskar 1983617Wrong intervention: chemonucleolysis
El barzouhi 2014620Unable to obtain article
Epstein 2004626Wrong population: spinal cysts. SR
Fakouri 2011643Wrong population: not sciatica
Fakouri 2015644SR - used as source of references
Fitzsimmons 2014676Different Treatment pathways looked at, not individual interventions compared
Franke 2009692Wrong comparison: nucleotomy
Freeman 2005694Cross-over RCT
Freeman 2007695Wrong intervention and comparison: fusion vs. fusion
Freeman 2008698SR - used as source of references
Fu 2005730incorrect comparison: intra-class; level of detail: is decompression with or without fusion not in scope
Fu 2008731Intraclass comparison: laminoforaminotomy vs. laminectomy
Garcia 2013751Does not answer the question: Treatment post-surgery
Gerges 2010774SR - used as source of references
Giannadakis 2015785Intra-class comparison
Gibson 2000786Cochrane systematic review: used as reference list
Gibson 2007789Cochrane SR - used as source of references
Gibson 2007788Cochrane SR - used as source of references
Greenfield 2003828conference abstract
Guo 2005849Not in English
Guo 2007848Not in English
Hadzic 2013862Presentation
Haefeli 2008863Incorrect stratum. no outcomes of interest reported
Haughton 2003913SR - used as source of references
Hazard 1989920Does not answer our question: wrong intervention
Heid 2008928Does not answer the question: Treatment post-surgery
Hellum 2011930Wrong intervention/comparison: prosthesis vs. rehabilitation
Herkowitz 1991945Wrong population: spondylolisthesis. Inflammatory causes of back pain (for example, ankylosing spondylitis or diseases of the viscera)
Hirsch 2009973SR - used as source of references
Hong 2015984SR - used as source of references
Ibrahim 20081009SR - used as source of references
Indrakanti 20121016SR of HE analysis papers
Islam 20131020Incorrect study design. Case-series
Issack 20121022Review article
Jacobs 20111040SR - used as source of references
Jacobs 20121042SR - used as source of references
Jacobs 20131043SR - used as source of references
Jacobs 20131038SR - used as source of references
Jarrett 20121052SR - used as source of references
Jirarattanaphochai 20071076Does not answer the question: post-surgery Treatment
Jirarattanaphochai 20081077Does not answer question: post-surgery Treatment
Jo 20141078All pts. had surgery. and comparison is those with history vs. those without history of surgery
Johansson 20091080Does not answer the question: post-surgery Treatment
Jurecki-tiller 20071093SR - used as source of references
Kamper 20141105SR/MA - used as source of references
Karabekir 20081111incorrect comparison: study compares two different fusion techniques with one treatment arm also having a decompression: doesn't inform the review question
Kawakami 20131127Cohort study but mixed population of sciatica or claudication
Kim 20031166Wrong comparison: combination Treatment - surgery + oxiplex gel
Kim 20041165Wrong comparison: combination Treatment - discectomy + oxiplex gel
Kim 20151159incorrect population: patient choice too narrow for study to be useful as all patients had type 2 diabetes
Kim 20151158Incorrect study design. Case-series
Kim 20151167Breakdown of spine surgery not reported
Knape 19701190Does not answer the question: post-surgery Treatment
Knight 20011192SR - used as source of references
Knight 20091191Wrong comparison: nucleoplasty
Komp 20151212Intra-class comparison: interlaminar vs. microsurgical laminotomy
Kondrashov 20061213Incorrect study design. Case-series
Kong 20071214Wrong intervention/comparison: implantation versus fusion
Konnopka 20121216Case-series and prognostic study. Incorrect study design
Korkmaz dilmen 20101219Does not answer question: post-surgery Treatment
Kotil 20141224Not sciatica population
Kreiner 20141233Guideline
Krugluger 20001237Wrong intervention: chemonucleolysis
Lauryssen 20151269Incorrect population: patients with spondylolisthesis included( from Patel 2014)
Lee 19961297Not in English
Lee 20131284Wrong intervention: combination of laminectomy + flavectomy
Lee 20151298Intra-class comparison
Levy 20121312SR - used as source of references
Lewis 20151318Unable to obtain article
Livesey 20001353Abstract
Loguidice 20111358SR - used as source of references
Lonne 20151366Neurogenic claudication population but not with sciatica
Lopez 20051367Not in English
Lorish 19981368All pts. had same surgery
Luhmann 20031376Not in English
Luhmann 20051377SR - used as source of references
Macario 20061384SR - used as source of references
Madan 20031397Wrong population: unclear sciatica
Majeed 20131409Cohort study but intra-class comparison
Malmivaara 20071416Wrong population: some had spondylolisthesis and some with buttock pain and not all leg.
Malmivaara 20071415Wrong population: not sciatica
Malter 19961418Wrong intervention: chemonucleolysis
Malter 19961419HE paper - no clinical effectiveness data
Manchikanti 20091440SR - used as source of references
Manchikanti 20131441SR - used as source of references
Manchikanti 20131451SR - used as source of references
Manchikanti 20131446SR - used as source of references
Mannion 20101465Case-series. Incorrect study design
Mariconda 20021466incorrect population: Spondylolisthesis population
Marin 20051468Wrong comparison: nucleoplasty
Markova 20071470SR - used as source of references
Mazanec 20071489Overview of a previously published trial (SPORT) that has been included in our review
Mcculloch 19811501Case-series. Wrong intervention: chemonucleolysis
Moojen 20101555Study protocol
Moojen 20131554Incorrect population: neurogenic claudication with no leg pain reference
Moojen 20151556Incorrect population: neurogenic claudication with no leg pain reference
Munting 20151592Wrong population: some had spondylolisthesis. Inflammatory causes of back pain (for example, ankylosing spondylitis or diseases of the viscera)
Neblett 20141617Unable to obtain article
Nerland 20151621Intra-class comparison
Niskanen 20021639Not mention sciatica
Nykvist 19951654Cohort study, but already have sufficient RCT data in the review for this comparison (discectomy vs. UC)
Ohtori 20111669Wrong intervention/comparisons. All arms included in fusion review.
Overdevest 20151688intra-class comparison
Pappas 19921706incorrect comparison: intra-class comparison
Parker 20101719Incorrect study design. Case-series
Parker 20131716Intra-class comparison
Parker 20131718Intra-class comparison
Parker 20151717Economic study excluded from HE analysis
Patel 20141729Wrong population: some pts. had spondylolisthesis. Inflammatory causes of back pain (for example, ankylosing spondylitis or diseases of the viscera)
Patel 20151728incorrect comparison-intraclass
Pauza 20021733Unable to obtain article
Pauza 20031734Abstract
Pauza 20041735Mixed population: only 27% had sciatica
Pauza 20041732Abstract
Pichon 20111765Not in English
Pneumaticos 20101775case-control study. Incorrect study design
Postacchini 19871786Wrong comparison: chemonucleolysis
Postacchini 19931784intra-class comparison
Rajasekaran 20131815Neurogenic claudication population but not with sciatica. Intra-class comparison: 2 types of decompression (midline vs. spinous process splitting)
Ran 20151817SR - used as source of references
Revel 19931843Wrong comparison: chemonucleolysis
Reverberi 20051845Not an RCT - cohort study
Rompe 19991870Intra-class comparison
Rossi 19931876Not in English
Saberski 20001894Wrong comparison: treatment via spinal canal endoscopy (but no details of what was given in the endoscopy arm)
Satoh 20061922No mention of sciatica
Schick 20091938intra-class comparison
Sedighi 20141961Wrong comparison: nucleotomy and osteotomy
Shamji 20141973Conference abstract
Shareef 20141976incorrect comparison: intra-class comparison
Singh 20092006SR - used as source of references
Singh 20132007SR - used as source of references
Slatis 20112022incorrect population: patients with Spondylolisthesis (% not reported)
Slotman 19962026intra-class comparison
Smith 20132031SR - used as source of references
Smorgick 20132032Inflammatory causes of back pain (for example, ankylosing spondylitis or diseases of the viscera). Wrong population: spondylolisthesis
Sutheerayongprasert 20122087Cohort study, but already have sufficient RCT data in the review for this comparison (discectomy vs. UC)
Swezey 19962094Inflammatory causes of back pain (for example, ankylosing spondylitis or diseases of the viscera). Wrong population: some pts. had spondylolisthesis
Takeshima 20002102Abstract
Tharin 20122122Abstract
Thomas 20072127Cohort study, but already have sufficient RCT data in the review for this comparison (discectomy vs. UC)
Thome 20052133intra-class comparison
Thomé 20052132intra-class comparison
Thome 20062131Abstract
Wang 20132279All pts. had discectomy
Wu 20152351Wrong intervention: nucleoplasty
Xinyu 20092355incorrect comparison: intra-class comparison
Yaman 20152364Wrong population: not mention sciatica
Copyright © NICE, 2016.
Bookshelf ID: NBK410180
Contents