Comparison 2. Decompression versus interspinous spacer.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Pain	3	656	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.89 [‐6.08, 4.31]
1.1 Short‐term (less than 12 months)	3	328	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.93 [‐9.86, 8.00]
1.2 Long‐term (12 months or more)	3	328	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.55 [‐8.08, 6.99]
2 Disability	3	656	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.34 [‐2.01, 4.69]
2.1 Short‐term (less than 12 months)	3	329	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.30 [‐3.64, 6.25]
2.2 Long‐term (12 months or more)	3	327	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.25 [‐4.48, 6.98]
3 Function	2	360	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.03 [‐0.19, 0.12]
3.1 Short‐term (less than 12 months)	2	185	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.06 [‐0.27, 0.14]
3.2 Long‐term (12 months or more)	2	175	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.00 [‐0.30, 0.29]
4 Quality of life	1	162	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.09 [‐0.18, 0.00]
4.1 Short‐term (less than 12 months)	1	81	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.12 [‐0.25, 0.01]
4.2 Long‐term (12 months or more)	1	81	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.05 [‐0.18, 0.07]
5 Costs	2	240	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	2856.34 [1970.40, 3742.28]
6 Operation time	3	340	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	39.11 [19.43, 58.78]
7 Blood loss	1	81	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	144.0 [‐209.74, 497.74]
8 Reoperations	3	326	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	3.95 [2.12, 7.37]
9 Hospitalisation	2	240	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.51 [‐0.58, 1.60]