Table 1.
RCT demographics per subspecialty
| Total | Spinal | V & NT | Functional | PNS | Pituitary | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. trials | 82 | 40 (48.8%) | 19 (23.2%) | 11 (13.4%) | 10 (12.2%) | 2 (2.4%) | |
| Registered | 38 (46.3%) | 15 (37.5%) | 13 (68.4%) | 5 (45.5%) | 5 (50%) | 0 (0%) | |
| No. publications | Median (IQR) | 2 (1–3) | 2 (1–4) | 1 (1–2) | 2 (1–2) | 1 (1–2) | 1 (1–1) |
| No. centers | Multicentered | 48 (58.5%) | 22 (55%) | 16 (84.2%) | 7 (63.6%) | 2 (20%) | 1 (50%) |
| Single-centered | 30 (36.6%) | 15 (37.5%) | 2 (10.5%) | 4 (36.4%) | 8 (80%) | 1 (50%) | |
| Unknown | 4 (4.9%) | 3 (7.5%) | 1 (5.3%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | |
| Median (IQR) | 3.5 (1.0–13.0) | 3.0 (1.0–9.0) | 18.5 (6.0–47.3) | 3.0 (1.0–8.5) | 1.0 (1.0–1.0) | 23.5 (12.3–34.8) | |
| No. countries | Median (IQR) | 1.0 (1.0–1.0) | 1.0 (1.0–1.0) | 1.0 (1.0–7.8) | 1.0 (1.0–1.0) | 1.0 (1.0–1.0) | 4.0 (2.5–5.5) |
| Duration (mo) | Median (IQR) | 42 (27.8–68) | 42 (35.5–60) | 63 (21.8–90.8) | 47 (39.8–58) | 18 (12.5–36.5) | NA |
| No. patients | Total (median) | 95 (50–175) | 98 (63–178) | 112 (35–300) | 48 (35–118) | 108 (52–119) | 62 (42–81) |
| Sx (median) | 48 (26–87) | 50 (30–87) | 61 (21–175) | 26 (16–39) | 54 (18–60) | 30.5 (21–40) | |
| Non-Sx (median) | 47 (24–82) | 49 (30–71) | 73 (19–164) | 21 (16–39) | 54 (30–60) | 31 (21–41) | |
| Masking | Double blind | 7 (8.5%) | 3 (7.5%) | 0 (0%) | 4 (36.4%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
| Single blind | 26 (31.7%) | 8 (20%) | 9 (47.4%) | 5 (45.5%) | 4 (40%) | 0 (0%) | |
| Open label | 49 (59.8%) | 29 (72.5%) | 10 (52.6%) | 2 (18.2%) | 6 (60%) | 2 (100%) | |
| Outcome | Surgical | 52 (63.4%) | 23 (57.5%) | 13 (68.4%) | 8 (72.7%) | 8 (80%) | 0 (0%) |
| Non-operative | 3 (3.7%) | 2 (5%) | 1 (5.3%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | |
| No difference | 27 (32.9%) | 15 (37.5%) | 5 (26.3%) | 3 (27.3%) | 2 (20%) | 2 (100%) | |
| Funding | Non-industry | 48 (58.5%) | 25 (62.5%) | 11 (57.9%) | 7 (63.6%) | 5 (50%) | 0 (0%) |
| Industry | 13 (15.9%) | 7 (17.5%) | 1 (5.3%) | 4 (36.4%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (50%) | |
| Not reported | 21 (25.6%) | 8 (20%) | 7 (36.8%) | 0 (0%) | 5 (50%) | 1 (50%) | |
| No. citations | Median (IQR) | 95 (21.8–296.0) | 127.5 (22.8–286.0) | 135 (30.5–331.0) | 258 (64.5–1058.0) | 48 (3.3–86.5) | 40 (26.0–54.0) |
| Impact factor | Median (IQR) | 6.1(2.4–39.3) | 3.4 (2.1–32. 1) | 23.5 (3.6–44.0) | 23.5 (8.9–48.6) | 8.2 (3.0–15.0) | 3.5 (3.5–3.5) |
| Jadad | Median (IQR) | 3 (2–3) | 2.5 (2–3) | 3 (2–3) | 3 (2–4) | 3 (1.25–3) | 1 (1–1) |
IQR interquartile range, mo months, No. number of, PNS peripheral nerve surgery, SD standard deviation, Sx surgical arm, V & NT neurovascular and neurotrauma