Table 4b.
Long-term results (>1-year follow-up)
| Treatment modes | Tendon affected | First author (year) | Pain | Function | ROM | Force | Satisfaction | Treatment Success | QoL | Complications |
| Surgery versus detuned laser or no treatment (evidence level) | Rotator cuff | Brox36 | – (4) | – (4) | – (4) | – (4) | – (4) | ↑ (3) | – (4) | – (4) |
| Surgery versus sham surgery (evidence level) | Wrist extensors | Kroslak22 | ↔ (3) | ↔ (3) | ↔ (3) | ↔ (3) | – (4) | – (4) | – (4) | ↔ (3) |
| Surgery versus physiotherapy | Rotator cuff | Brox36 | – | – | – | – | – | ↔ | – | – |
| Rotator cuff | Ketola29 | ↔ | – | – | – | – | ↔ | ↔ | ||
| Rotator cuff | Haahr35; Haahr38 | ↔ | ↔ | – | – | – | ↔ | – | – | |
| Rotator cuff | Farfaras28 | – | ↑ | ↑ | ↔ | – | ↔ | ↔ | ↔ | |
| Overall surgery versus physiotherapy (evidence level) | ↔ (2) | ↑ (3) | ↑ (3) | ↔ (3) | - (4) | ↔ (2) | ↔ (2) | ↔ (3) | ||
| Surgery versus ESWT | Rotator cuff | Rompe30 | ↔ | – | – | – | – | ↑ | ||
| Wrist extensors | Radwan31 | ↔ | – | – | ↔ | – | ↔ | – | – | |
| Overall surgery versus ESWT (evidence level) | ↔ (2) | – (4) | – (4) | ↔ (3) | – (4) | ↑ (3) | – (4) | – (4) | ||
| Surgery versus botox (evidence level) | Wrist extensors | Keizer32 | ↔ (3) | – (4) | ↔ (3) | ↔ (3) | – (4) | ↔ (3) | – (4) | – (4) |
Significant results (strong or moderate evidence) are highlighted in bold. Strong evidence (Level 1) is provided by generally consistent findings in multiple high-quality RCTs. Moderate evidence (Level 2) is provided by generally consistent findings in one high-quality RCT and one or more low-quality RCTs, or by generally consistent findings in multiple low-quality or moderate-quality RCTs. Limited or conflicting evidence (Level 3) is provided by only one RCT (either high or low quality), or by inconsistent findings in multiple RCTs. No evidence (Level 4) is defined by the absence of RCTs (van Tulder et al26, 2003).
ESWT, extracorporeal shock wave therapy; RCTs, randomised controlled trials.