Table 2.

Quality appraisal of the diagnostic accuracy of lumbar facet joint nerve block diagnostic studies

	Manchikanti et al[23]	Pang et al[25]	Schwarzer et al[22]	Schwarzer et al[84]	Manchikanti et al[86]	Manchikanti et al[79]	Manchikanti et al[85]	Manchikanti et al[93]	Manchikanti et al[94]	Manchikanti et al[88]	Manchikanti et al[82]	Manchikanti et al[90]	Manchukonda et al[91]	Manchikanti et al[92]	Manchikanti et al[95]	DePalma et al[24]
(1) Was the test evaluated in a spectrum of subjects representative of patients who would normally receive the test in clinical practice?	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
(2) Was the test performed by examiners representative of those who would normally perform the test in practice?	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
(3) Were raters blinded to the reference standard for the target disorder being evaluated?	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N
(4) Were raters blinded to the findings of other raters during the study?	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
(5) Were raters blinded to their own prior outcomes of the test under evaluation?	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N
(6) Were raters blinded to clinical information that may have influenced the test outcome?	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N
(7) Were raters blinded to additional cues, not intended to form part of the diagnostic test procedure?	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
(8) Was the order in which raters examined subjects varied?	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
(9) Were appropriate statistical measures of agreement used?	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
(10) Was the application and interpretation of the test appropriate?	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
(11) Was the time interval between measurements suitable in relation to the stability of the variable being measured?	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
(12) If there were dropouts from the study, was this less than 20% of the sample	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Total	9/12	8/12	9/12	9/12	9/12	9/12	9/12	9/12	9/12	9/12	9/12	9/12	9/12	9/12	9/12	9/12

Y: Yes; N: No. Source: Lucas et al[80].