Table 3.
Summary of Characteristics of the Included Articles With Their Methodological Quality Scores.
| Article No. | First Author | Article Title | Journal Name | Journal Type | Year of Publication | Article Category | Funding | AMSTAR Score | AMSTAR 2 Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aleem | Surgical Versus Non-Surgical Treatment for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis | CORR | Surgical | 2017 | Degeneration | No | 6 | Critically low |
| 2 | Astur | Balloon Kyphoplasty in the Treatment of Neoplastic Spine Lesions: A Systematic Review | GSJ | Surgical | 2019 | Miscellaneous | Yes | 10 | High |
| 3 | Azarhomayoun | Sequestrectomy Versus Conventional Microdiscectomy for the Treatment of a Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Systematic Review | Spine | Surgical | 2015 | Degeneration | No | 10 | High |
| 4 | Bederman | Surgical techniques for spinopelvic reconstruction following total sacrectomy: a systematic review | ESJ | Surgical | 2013 | Miscellaneous | No | 3 | Critically low |
| 5 | Buchbinder | Percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (Review) | Cochrane | Surgical | 2015 | Trauma | Yes | 11 | High |
| 6 | Buser | Allograft Versus Demineralized Bone Matrix in Instrumented and Noninstrumented Lumbar Fusion: A Systematic Review | GSJ | Surgical | 2018 | Degeneration | Yes | 6 | Critically low |
| 7 | Bydon | Lumbar Fusion Versus Nonoperative Management for Treatment of Discogenic Low Back Pain—A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials | Spinal Disord Tech | Surgical | 2014 | Degeneration | No | 8 | Low |
| 8 | Campbell | Posterolateral Fusion Versus Interbody Fusion for Degenerative Spondylolisthesis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | GSJ | Surgical | 2017 | Degeneration | No | 7 | Critically low |
| 9 | Carreon | Fusion and nonsurgical treatment for symptomatic lumbar degenerative disease: a systematic review of Oswestry Disability Index and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form–36 outcomes | Spine | Surgical | 2008 | Degeneration | Yes | 8 | Critically low |
| 10 | Cheung | Comparison of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion With a Stand-Alone Interbody Cage Versus a Conventional Cage-Plate Technique: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | GSJ | Surgical | 2019 | Degeneration | No | 8 | Moderate |
| 11 | Clark | Minimally Invasive versus Open Cervical Foraminotomy: A Systematic Review | GSJ | Surgical | 2011 | Degeneration | No | 6 | Low |
| 12 | Coe | Lateral Mass Screw Fixation in the Cervical Spine A Systematic Literature Review | JBJS | Surgical | 2013 | Trauma | Yes | 6 | Critically low |
| 13 | Dasenbrock | The efficacy of minimally invasive discectomy compared with open discectomy: a meta-analysis of prospective randomized controlled trials | J Neurosurg Spine | Surgical | 2012 | Degeneration | Yes | 9 | Low |
| 14 | Del Curto | Surgical approaches for cervical spine facet dislocations in adults (Review) | Cochrane | Surgical | 2014 | Trauma | No | 11 | High |
| 15 | Dower | Surgical management of recurrent lumbar disc herniation and the role of fusion | Clinical Neuroscience | Surgical | 2015 | Trauma | No | 6 | Critically low |
| 16 | Drazin | Complications and outcomes after spinal deformity surgery in the elderly: review of the existing literature and future directions | Neurosurg Focus | Surgical | 2011 | Degeneration | No | 4 | Critically low |
| 17 | Eerenbeemt | Total disc replacement surgery for symptomatic degenerative lumbar disc disease: a systematic review of the literature | ESJ | Surgical | 2010 | Degeneration | Yes | 7 | Critically low |
| 18 | Fakouri | Is Sequestrectomy a Viable Alternative to Microdiscectomy? A Systematic Review of the Literature | CORR | Surgical | 2014 | Degeneration | No | 6 | Critically low |
| 19 | Falco | Systematic Review of Diagnostic Utility and Therapeutic Effectiveness of Cervical Facet Joint Interventions | Pain Physician | Nonsurgical | 2009 | Degeneration | Yes | 7 | Critically low |
| 20 | Fallah | Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Arthroplasty versus Arthrodesis for Single-Level Cervical Spondylosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | Plos One | Nonsurgical | 2012 | Deformity | No | 10 | Moderate |
| 21 | Fehlings | Change in Functional Impairment, Disability, and Quality of Life Following Operative Treatment for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | GSJ | Surgical | 2017 | Degeneration | Yes | 10 | High |
| 22 | Fraser | Anterior Approaches to Fusion of the Cervical Spine: A Meta-Analysis of Fusion Rates | J Neurosurg Spine | Surgical | 2007 | Degeneration | No | 3 | Critically low |
| 23 | Fu | Long Fusion Correction of Degenerative Adult Spinal Deformity and the Selection of the Upper or Lower Thoracic Region as the Site of Proximal Instrumentation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | BMJ | Nonsurgical | 2016 | Degeneration | Yes | 9 | Moderate |
| 24 | Gendreau | Outcomes After Cervical Disc Arthroplasty Versus Stand-Alone Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Meta-Analysis | GSJ | Surgical | 2019 | Degeneration | No | 9 | High |
| 25 | George | Interventions for the Treatment of Metastatic Extradural Spinal Cord Compression in Adults (Review) | Cochrane | Surgical | 2015 | Miscellaneous | Yes | 10 | Moderate |
| 26 | Gibson | Surgery for Degenerative Lumbar Spondylosis (Review) | Cochrane | Surgical | 2005 | Degeneration | No | 10 | High |
| 27 | Goldstein | Comparative Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Surgery for Posterior Lumbar Fusion A Systematic review | CORR | Surgical | 2014 | Degeneration | No | 6 | Critically low |
| 28 | Hong | Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety between Interspinous Process Distraction Device and Open Decompression Surgery in Treating Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Meta Analysis | J Investigative Surgery | Surgical | 2014 | Degeneration | Yes | 9 | Moderate |
| 29 | Hu | Comparison of Smith-Petersen Osteotomy, Pedicular Subtraction Osteotomy, and Poly-Segmental Wedge Osteotomy in Treating Rigid Thoracolumbar Kyphotic Deformity in Ankylosing Spondylitis a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | BMC Surgery | Surgical | 2016 | Degeneration | No | 8 | Low |
| 30 | Humadi | A Meta-Analysis of Cervical Laminoplasty Techniques: Are Mini-Plates Superior? | GSJ | Surgical | 2017 | Degeneration | No | 8 | Moderate |
| 31 | Jacobs | Fusion for Low-Grade Adult Isthmic Spondylolisthesis: A Systematic Review of the Literature | ESJ | Surgical | 2005 | Deformity | No | 6 | Critically Low |
| 32 | Jacobs | Surgery Versus Conservative Management of Sciatica due to a Lumbar Herniated Disc: A Systematic Review | ESJ | Surgical | 2010 | Degeneration | Yes | 8 | Low |
| 33 | Jain | Structural Allograft Versus PEEK Implants in Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Systematic Review | GSJ | Surgical | 2019 | Degeneration | No | 7 | Low |
| 34 | Jiang | Which procedure is better for lumbar interbody fusion: anterior lumbar interbody fusion or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion? | Acta Orthop Trauma Surg | Surgical | 2012 | Degeneration | No | 2 | Critically Low |
| 35 | Joyeux | Fetoscopic Versus Open Repair for Spina Bifida Aperta: A Systematic Review of Outcomes | Fetal Diagnosis & Therapy | Nonsurgical | 2016 | Miscellaneous | Yes | 9 | Low |
| 36 | Kanter | A Review of Minimally Invasive Procedures for the Treatment of Adult Spinal Deformity | Spine | Surgical | 2016 | Degeneration | No | 2 | Critically low |
| 37 | Khan | Surgical Outcomes for Minimally Invasive vs Open Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis | Neurosurgery | Surgical | 2015 | Deformity | No | 9 | Moderate |
| 38 | Koenig | Decompression Versus Fusion for Grade I Degenerative Spondylolisthesis: A Meta-Analysis | GSJ | Surgical | 2019 | Degeneration | No | 7 | Low |
| 39 | Kovacs | Surgery Versus Conservative Treatment for Symptomatic Lumbar Spinal Stenosis A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials | Spine | Surgical | 2011 | Degeneration | Yes | 7 | Low |
| 40 | Kwon | A Critical Analysis of the Literature Regarding Surgical Approach and Outcome for Adult Low-Grade Isthmic Spondylolisthesis | Spinal Disord Tech | Surgical | 2005 | Degeneration | No | 4 | Critically low |
| 41 | Ledonio | Pédiatrie Pedicle Screws: Comparative Effectiveness and Safety | JBJS | Surgical | 2011 | Trauma | Yes | 4 | Critically low |
| 42 | Li | Decompression and Coflex Interlaminar Stabilisation Compared With Conventional Surgical Procedures for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | Int Journal of Surgery | Surgical | 2017 | Degeneration | Yes | 8 | Low |
| 43 | Liu | Comparing Pain Reduction Following Vertebroplasty and Conservative Treatment for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials | Pain Physician | Nonsurgical | 2013 | Trauma | Yes | 8 | Low |
| 44 | Liu | A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis of Posterior Interbody Fusion Versus Posterolateral Fusion in Lumbar Spondylolisthesis | ESJ | Surgical | 2013 | Trauma | No | 9 | Low |
| 45 | Lu | Efficacy and Safety of Mobi-C Cervical Artificial Disc Versus Anterior Discectomy and Fusion in Patients With Symptomatic Degenerative Disc Disease: A Meta-Analysis | Medicine | Nonsurgical | 2017 | Degeneration | No | 8 | Critically low |
| 46 | Lu | Clinical Outcomes of Treating Cervical Adjacent Segment Disease by Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Versus Total Disc Replacement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | GSJ | Surgical | 2019 | Degeneration | No | 9 | High |
| 47 | Luksanapruksa | Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of En Bloc Vertebrectomy Compared With Intralesional Resection for Giant Cell Tumors of the Mobile Spine | GSJ | Surgical | 2016 | Miscellaneous | No | 9 | High |
| 48 | Ma | Is It Useful to Apply Transpedicular Intracorporeal Bone Grafting to Unstable Thoracolumbar Fractures? A Systematic Review | Acta Neurochir | Surgical | 2012 | Trauma | Yes | 5 | Critically low |
| 49 | Machado | Surgical Options for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis | Cochrane | Surgical | 2016 | Degeneration | No | 11 | High |
| 50 | Makanji | Critical Analysis of Trends in Lumbar Fusion for Degenerative Disorders Revisited: Influence of Technique on Fusion Rate and Clinical Outcomes | ESJ | Surgical | 2018 | Degeneration | No | 6 | Critically Low |
| 51 | Mattie | Comparing Percutaneous Vertebroplasty and Conservative Therapy for Treating Osteoporotic Compression Fractures in the Thoracic and Lumbar Spine: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | JBJS | Surgical | 2016 | Trauma | No | 8 | Low |
| 52 | McAnany | A Meta-Analysis of the Clinical and Fusion Results Following Treatment of Symptomatic Cervical Pseudarthrosis | GSJ | Surgical | 2015 | Degeneration | No | 8 | Moderate |
| 53 | McAnany | Open Versus Minimally Invasive Fixation Techniques for Thoracolumbar Trauma: A Meta-Analysis | GSJ | Surgical | 2016 | Trauma | No | 8 | Moderate |
| 54 | Middelkoop | Surgery versus conservative care for neck pain: a systematic review | ESJ | Surgical | 2013 | Degeneration | Yes | 8 | Low |
| 55 | Mirza | Systematic Review of Randomized Trials Comparing Lumbar Fusion Surgery to Nonoperative Care for Treatment of Chronic Back Pain | Spine | Surgical | 2007 | Miscellaneous | Yes | 7 | Critically low |
| 56 | Noorian | A Systematic Review of Clinical Outcomes in Surgical Treatment of Adult Isthmic Spondylolisthesis | Spine | Surgical | 2018 | Degeneration | No | 9 | Moderate |
| 57 | Noshchenko | Perioperative and Long-term Clinical Outcomes for Bone Morphogenetic Protein Versus Iliac Crest Bone Graft for Lumbar Fusion in Degenerative Disk Disease: Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis | Spinal Disord Tech | Surgical | 2014 | Degeneration | No | 8 | Low |
| 58 | Overley | Return to Play in Elite Athletes After Lumbar Microdiscectomy: A Meta-analysis | Spine | Surgical | 2016 | Degeneration | No | 8 | Low |
| 59 | Phan | Outcomes of Short Fusion Versus Long Fusion for Adult Degenerative Scoliosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis | Orthopaedic Surgery | Surgical | 2017 | Degeneration | No | 8 | Low |
| 60 | Phan | Minimally Invasive Versus Open Laminectomy for Lumbar Stenosis A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | Spine | Surgical | 2016 | Degeneration | No | 9 | Low |
| 61 | Rasouli | Minimally Invasive Discectomy Versus Microdiscectomy/Open Discectomy for Symptomatic Lumbar Disc Herniation (Review) | Cochrane | Surgical | 2014 | Degeneration | Yes | 11 | High |
| 62 | Rhee | Nonoperative Versus Operative Management for the Treatment Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: An Updated Systematic Review | GSJ | Surgical | 2017 | Degeneration | Yes | 9 | Moderate |
| 63 | Rometsch | Does Operative or Nonoperative Treatment Achieve Better Results in A3 and A4 Spinal Fractures Without Neurological Deficit? Systematic Literature Review With Meta-Analysis | GSJ | Surgical | 2017 | Trauma | Yes | 8 | Moderate |
| 64 | Rutges | Outcome of Conservative and Surgical Treatment of Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis: A Systematic Literature Review | ESJ | Surgical | 2015 | Deformity | No | 8 | Low |
| 65 | Saltikov | Surgical Versus Non-Surgical Interventions in People With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (Review) | Cochrane | Surgical | 2015 | Deformity | Yes | 10 | Moderate |
| 66 | Scheepers | The Effectiveness of Surgical Versus Conservative Treatment for Symptomatic Unilateral Spondylolysis of the Lumbar Spine in Athletes: A Systematic Review | JBI-SRIR | Surgical | 2015 | Infection | No | 9 | Low |
| 67 | Schroeder | L5/S1 Fusion Rates in Degenerative Spine Surgery A Systematic Review Comparing ALIF, TLIF, and Axial Interbody Arthrodesis | Clin Spine Surg | Surgical | 2016 | Trauma | No | 6 | Critically low |
| 68 | Schulte | Surgery for Adult Spondylolisthesis: A Systematic Review of the Evidence | ESJ | Surgical | 2015 | Degeneration | No | 4 | Critically low |
| 69 | Singhatanadgige | Outcomes Following Laminoplasty or Laminectomy and Fusion in Patients With Myelopathy Caused by Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament: A Systematic Review | GSJ | Surgical | 2016 | Degeneration | No | 7 | Low |
| 70 | Song | Microsurgery or Open Cervical Foraminotomy for Cervical Radiculopathy? A Systematic Review | International Orthop | Surgical | 2016 | Degeneration | No | 7 | Critically low |
| 71 | Suppiah | How Best to Manage the Spinal Epidural Abscess? A Current Systematic Review | World Neurosurgery | Surgical | 2016 | Degeneration | No | 6 | Critically low |
| 72 | Tan | Is MIS TLIF Superior to Open TLIF in Obese Patients? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | ESJ | Surgical | 2018 | Infection | No | 8 | Low |
| 73 | Taylor | Presentation and Outcomes After Medical and Surgical Treatment Versus Medical Treatment Alone of Spontaneous Infectious Spondylodiscitis: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis | GSJ | Surgical | 2018 | Infection | Yes | 6 | Low |
| 74 | Tuchman | Iliac Crest Bone Graft Versus Local Autograft or Allograft for Lumbar Spinal Fusion: A Systematic Review | GSJ | Surgical | 2015 | Degeneration | Yes | 8 | Moderate |
| 75 | Tuchman | Autograft versus Allograft for Cervical Spinal Fusion: A Systematic Review | GSJ | Surgical | 2017 | Degeneration | Yes | 9 | Moderate |
| 76 | Verhagen | Effect of Various Kinds of Cervical Spinal Surgery on Clinical Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | Pain | Nonsurgical | 2013 | Miscellaneous | Yes | 10 | Moderate |
| 77 | Verlaan | Surgical Treatment of Traumatic Fractures of the Thoracic and Lumbar Spine A Systematic Review of the Literature on Techniques, Complications, and Outcome | Spine | Surgical | 2004 | Degeneration | No | 5 | Critically low |
| 78 | Wang | Do Lumbar Motion Preserving Devices Reduce the Risk of Adjacent Segment Pathology Compared With Fusion Surgery? A Systematic Review | Spine | Surgical | 2012 | Degeneration | Yes | 8 | Low |
| 79 | Wang | Fusion Techniques for Adult Isthmic Spondylolisthesis: A Systematic Review | Acta Orthop Trauma Surg | Surgical | 2014 | Trauma | No | 4 | Critically low |
| 80 | Wang | A Systematic Literature Review of Time to Return to Work and Narcotic Use After Lumbar Spinal Fusion Using Minimal Invasive and Open Surgery Techniques | BMC Health Services Research | Nonsurgical | 2017 | Degeneration | Yes | 7 | Critically low |
| 81 | Wei | Comparison of Artificial Total Disc Replacement Versus Fusion for Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials | Int Orthopaedics | Surgical | 2013 | Degeneration | No | 9 | Moderate |
| 82 | Wilson | A systematic review of preoperative predictors for postoperative clinical outcomes following lumbar discectomy | Spine | Surgical | 2016 | Degeneration | No | 7 | Critically Low |
| 83 | Wilson | Timing of Decompression in Patients With Acute Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review | GSJ | Surgical | 2017 | Trauma | Yes | 10 | High |
| 84 | Winegar | A Systematic Review of Occipital Cervical Fusion: Techniques and Outcomes: A Review | J Neurosurg Spine | Surgical | 2010 | Degeneration | No | 4 | Critically low |
| 85 | Xie | Percutaneous Vertebroplasty Versus Conservative Treatment for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures: An Updated Meta-Analysis of Prospective Randomized Controlled Trials | Int Journal of Surgery | Surgical | 2017 | Degeneration | No | 8 | Low |
| 86 | Xu | Anterior versus posterior approach for treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures: a meta-analysis | ESJ | Surgical | 2013 | Trauma | Yes | 9 | Low |
| 87 | Yadla | Adult Scoliosis Surgery Outcomes: A Systematic Review | Neurosurg Focus | Surgical | 2010 | Degeneration | No | 6 | Critically low |
| 88 | Ye | Comparison of the Use of rhBMP 7 Versus Iliac Crest Autograft in Single Level Lumbar Fusion: A Meta Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials | J Bone Miner Metab | Nonsurgical | 2017 | Miscellaneous | No | 7 | Low |
| 89 | Yerneni | Safety of Outpatient Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis | Neurosurgery | Surgical | 2019 | Trauma | No | 6 | Critically low |
| 90 | Yuan | Laminoplasty Versus Skip Laminectomy for the Treatment of Multilevel Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Systematic Review | Acta Orthop Trauma Surg | Surgical | 2014 | Deformity | No | 6 | Critically low |
| 91 | Yuan | Vertebroplasty and Balloon Kyphoplasty Versus Conservative Treatment for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures: A Meta-Analysis | Medicine | Nonsurgical | 2016 | Miscellaneous | No | 8 | Low |
| 92 | Zaina | Surgical versus non-surgical treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis | Cochrane | Surgical | 2016 | Degeneration | No | 10 | Moderate |
| 93 | Zhao | Interspinous Process Devices (IPD) Alone Versus Decompression Surgery for Lumbar Spinal st enosis (LSS): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials | Int Journal of Surgery | Surgical | 2017 | Degeneration | No | 7 | Critically low |
| 94 | Zhu | Anterior approach versus posterior approach for the treatment of multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy: a systemic review and meta-analysis | ESJ | Surgical | 2013 | Degeneration | No | 7 | Critically Low |
| 95 | Zigler | Comparison of Therapies in Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials | J Comparative Effectiveness Research | Nonsurgical | 2017 | Degeneration | Yes | 7 | Critically low |
| 96 | Zigler | Comparison of Lumbar Total Disc Replacement With Surgical Spinal Fusion for the Treatment of Single-Level Degenerative Disc Disease: A Meta-Analysis of 5-Year Outcomes From Randomized Controlled Trials | GSJ | Surgical | 2018 | Degeneration | Yes | 9 | High |
Abbreviations: BMC, BioMed Central; BMJ, British Medical Journal; CORR, Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research; ESJ, European Spine Journal; GSJ, Global Spine Journal; JBI-SRIR, Joanna Briggs Institute Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports; JBJS, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery; PLOS, Public Library of Science.