| Study size (10) |
>60 (10) |
5.7 |
| 41–60 (7) |
| <20, not stated (0) |
| Mean duration of follow-up (5) |
>24 (5) |
3.2 |
| 12–24 (2) |
| <12, not stated or unclear (0) |
| Number of different surgical procedures included in each reported outcome (10) |
One surgical procedure only (10) |
10 |
| More than one surgical procedure, but >90% undergoing one procedure (7) |
| Not stated, unclear, or <90% undergoing one procedure (0) |
| Type of study |
Randomized control study (15) |
4.7 |
| Prospective cohort study (10) |
| Retrospective study (0) |
| Diagnostic certainty |
In all (5) |
5 |
| In >80% |
| In <80% |
| Description of surgical procedure |
Adequate (5) |
3.7 |
| Fair (3) |
| Inadequate (0) |
| Description of postoperative rehabilitation |
Well described, >80% complying (10) |
2.0 |
| Well described with 60–80% complying (5) |
| Protocol reported or <60–80% complying (0) |
| Outcome measures |
Outcome measures clearly defined (2) |
4.4 |
| Timing of outcome assessment clearly stated (e.g., at best outcome after surgery or at follow-up) (2) |
| Use of outcome criteria that has reported good reliability. (3) |
| Use of outcome with good sensitivity (3) |
| Outcome assessment |
Subject recruited (5) |
3.9 |
| Investigator independent of surgeon (4) |
| Written assessment (3) |
| Completion of assessment by subjects themselves with minimal investigators assistance (3) |
| Selection process |
Selection criteria reported and unbiased (5) |
0 |
| Recruitment rate reported: >80% or<80% (5) |
| Eligible subjects not included in the study satisfactorily accounted for or 100% recruitment (5) |
| Total |
|
42.9 |
