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. 2022 Jan 31;10(1):e11. doi: 10.22037/aaem.v10i1.1471

Table 3.

Level of evidence by outcome

Outcome Sample size Risk of bias Imprecision Inconsistency
(I 2 range) 		Indirectness Publication bias Judgment and level of evidence Level of evidence
Overall neurological status 868 Serious Not serious Not serious Not serious Not serious Rated down 1 point:

  • Serious risk of bias

Rated up 2 points:

  • Large magnitude of effect

  • Presence of plausible confounders*

 Moderate . ⊖⊕⊕
Neurological status based on location of injury 868 Serious Not serious Not serious Not serious Not serious Rated down 1 point:

  • Serious risk of bias

Rated up 2 points:

  • Large magnitude of effect

  • Presence of plausible confounders*

 Moderate . ⊖⊕⊕
Neurological status based on definition of late surgery 868 Serious Not serious Not serious Not serious Not serious Rated down 1 point:

  • Serious risk of bias

Rated up 2 points:

  • Large magnitude of effect

  • Presence of plausible confounders**

 Moderate . ⊖⊕⊕
Neurological status based on severity of injury 640 Serious Not serious Not serious Not serious Not serious Rated down 1 point:

  • Serious risk of bias

Rated up 2 points:

  • Large magnitude of effect

  • Presence of plausible confounders*

 Moderate . ⊖⊕⊕

*, Since most of the studies had assessed cervical spinal cord patients, the authors decided that there are possible plausible confounders, which increase the confidence of findings.

**, Since late group compromise surgery after 12 hours (rather than 24 hours) in the most included studies, the authors decided that there are possible plausible confounders, which increase the confidence of findings.