Table 1.
Methodologic qualities of prospective studies included
| Quality variable | Ibrahim et al. [8] (2010) | Gerdesmeyer et al. [6] (2008) | Gollwitzer et al. [7] (2007) | Malay et al. [10] (2006) | Speed et al. [20] (2003) | Rompe et al. [17] (2003) | Marks et al. [11] (2008) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inclusion criteria | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Exclusion criteria | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Demographics comparable | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Can the number of participating centers be determined? | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Can the number of assessors be determined? | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Can the reader determine where the assessor is on the learning curve for the reported procedure? | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Are diagnostic criteria clearly stated for clinical outcomes if required? | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Is the treatment technique adequately described? | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Is there any way that they have tried to standardize the technique? | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Is there any way that they have tried to standardize perioperative care? | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Is the age and range given for patients in the ESWT group? | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Do the authors address whether there are any missing data? | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Is the age and range given for patients in the placebo group? | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Were patients in each group treated along similar timelines? | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Did all the patients asked to enter the study take part? | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Are dropout rates stated? | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Are outcomes clearly defined? | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Blinded assessors | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Standardized assessment tools | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Analysis by intention to treat | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Score | 16/20 | 14/20 | 16/20 | 16/20 | 16/20 | 16/20 | 16/20 |