What is the effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation in the management of patients with spinal metastases? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Purpose Spinal metastases are indicative of progressive cancer which can lead to vertebral body fractures and spinal cord compression. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment is infrequently used in patients with refractory pain. The aim of this systematic review is to determine the clinical efficacy of RFA, with the scope of using it as front-line management of spinal metastases. Methods Electronic databases were searched (to July 2020) for studies evaluating RFA treatment for spinal metastases in adults. Measured outcomes were pain (primary), disability, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), complications, tumour control and mortality. Study inclusion, data extraction and risk of bias using the ROBIN-I tool were assessed. Meta-analysis was conducted for pooled results with homogeneity, and narrative synthesis was conducted otherwise. Results 15 studies were included. RFA reduces pain scores at 3–5 weeks [standardised mean difference (SMD 2.24, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.55–2.93], 3–4 months (SMD 3.00, 95% CI 1.11–4.90) and 5–6 months (SMD 3.54, 95% CI 1.96–5.11). RFA is effective in reducing disability/improving HRQOL in the short-term but longer-term efficacy remains unclear. 13.2% cases reported local tumour control failure (2.5 months–5 year follow-up) whereas mortality was 23.6% (follow-up of up to 1 year). Conclusion Low quality evidence has proven RFA to be safe and effective in reducing pain and disability, especially in the short-term. RFA may be routinely implemented in all cases involving refractory pain or radiotherapy-resistant tumours but controlled trials are required to compare the efficacy of RFA to current frontline treatments. PROSPERO protocol registration number: CRD42020202377.

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Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation in low grade dysplastic Barrett’s esophagus

Endoscopy ◽

10.1055/a-0588-5151 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 50 (10) ◽

pp. 953-960 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Gargi Pandey ◽

Mubashir Mulla ◽

Wyn Lewis ◽

Antonio Foliaki ◽

David Chan

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Radiofrequency Ablation ◽

Barrett’S Esophagus ◽

Barrett's Esophagus ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Low Grade ◽

Short Term ◽

Recurrence Rates ◽

Premalignant Condition

Abstract Background Barrett’s esophagus (BE) is a premalignant condition characterized by replacement of the esophageal lining with metastatic columnar epithelium, and its management when complicated by low grade dysplasia (LGD) is controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with LGD. Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched for studies including patients with BE-associated LGD receiving RFA (January 1990 to May 2017). The outcome measures were complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia (CE-IM) and dysplasia (CE-D), rates of progression to high grade dysplasia (HGD) or cancer, and recurrence. Results Eight studies including 619 patients with LGD (RFA = 404, surveillance = 215) were analyzed. After a median follow-up of 26 months (range 12 – 44 months), the overall pooled rates of CE-IM and CE-D after RFA were 88.17 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 88.13 % – 88.20 %; P < 0.001) and 96.69 % (95 %CI 96.67 % – 96.71 %; P < 0.001), respectively. When compared with surveillance, RFA resulted in significantly lower rates of progression to HGD or cancer (odds ratio [OR] 0.07, 95 %CI 0.02 – 0.22). The pooled recurrence rates of IM and dysplasia were 5.6 % (95 %CI 5.57 – 5.63; P < 0.001) and 9.66 % (95 %CI 9.61 – 9.71; P < 0.001), respectively. Conclusions RFA safely eradicates IM and dysplasia and reduces the rates of progression from LGD to HGD or cancer in the short term.

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Exercise interventions in lateral elbow tendinopathy have better outcomes than passive interventions, but the effects are small: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 2123 subjects in 30 trials

British Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1136/bjsports-2020-102525 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. bjsports-2020-102525

Author(s):

Stefanos Karanasios ◽

Vasileios Korakakis ◽

Rod Whiteley ◽

Ioannis Vasilogeorgis ◽

Sarah Woodbridge ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Short Term ◽

Lateral Elbow ◽

Long Term Follow Up ◽

Wait And See ◽

Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of exercise compared with other conservative interventions in the management of lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET) on pain and function.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.MethodsWe used the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool 2 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to assess risk of bias and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology to grade the certainty of evidence. Self-perceived improvement, pain intensity, pain-free grip strength (PFGS) and elbow disability were used as primary outcome measures.Eligibility criteriaRCTs assessing the effectiveness of exercise alone or as an additive intervention compared with passive interventions, wait-and-see or injections in patients with LET.Results30 RCTs (2123 participants, 5 comparator interventions) were identified. Exercise outperformed (low certainty) corticosteroid injections in all outcomes at all time points except short-term pain reduction. Clinically significant differences were found in PFGS at short-term (mean difference (MD): 12.15, (95% CI) 1.69 to 22.6), mid-term (MD: 22.45, 95% CI 3.63 to 41.3) and long-term follow-up (MD: 18, 95% CI 11.17 to 24.84). Statistically significant differences (very low certainty) for exercise compared with wait-and-see were found only in self-perceived improvement at short-term, pain reduction and elbow disability at short-term and long-term follow-up. Substantial heterogeneity in descriptions of equipment, load, duration and frequency of exercise programmes were evident.ConclusionsLow and very low certainty evidence suggests exercise is effective compared with passive interventions with or without invasive treatment in LET, but the effect is small.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018082703.

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THE EFFICACY OF THE DIFFERENT ENDOSCOPIC TREATMENTS VERSUS SHAM, PHARMACOLOGIC OR SURGICAL METHODS FOR CHRONIC GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

Arquivos de Gastroenterologia ◽

10.1590/s0004-2803.201800000-65 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 55 (3) ◽

pp. 296-305 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Martin Andrés CORONEL ◽

Wanderley Marques BERNARDO ◽

Diogo Turiani Hourneaux de MOURA ◽

Eduardo Turiani Hourneaux de MOURA ◽

Igor Braga RIBEIRO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Surgical Treatment ◽

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease ◽

Gastroesophageal Reflux ◽

Reflux Disease ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Short Term ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Objective Outcomes

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Endoscopic antireflux treatments for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are still evolving, and most of the published studies address symptom relief in the short-term. Objective - We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis focused on evaluating the efficacy of the different endoscopic procedures. METHODS: Search was restricted to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on MedLine, Cochrane, SciELO, and EMBASE for patients with chronic GERD (>6 months), over 18 years old and available follow up of at least 3 months. The main outcome was to evaluate the efficacy of the different endoscopic treatments compared to sham, pharmacological or surgical treatment. Efficacy was measured by different subjective and objective outcomes. RESULTS: We analyzed data from 16 RCT, totaling 1085 patients. The efficacy of endoscopic treatments compared to sham and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) treatment showed a significant difference up to 6 months in favor of endoscopy with no heterogeneity (P<0.00001) (I2: 0%). The subgroup analysis showed a statistically significant difference up to 6 months in favor of endoscopy: endoscopy vs PPI (P<0.00001) (I2: 39%). Endoscopy vs sham (P<0.00001) (I2: 0%). Most subjective and objective outcomes were statistically significant in favor of endoscopy up to 6 and 12 months follow up. CONCLUSION: This systematic review and meta-analysis shows a good short-term efficacy in favor of endoscopic procedures when comparing them to a sham and pharmacological or surgical treatment. Data on long-term follow up is lacking and this should be explored in future studies.

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Exercise therapy improves eGFR, and reduces blood pressure and BMI in non-dialysis CKD patients: evidence from a meta-analysis

BMC Nephrology ◽

10.1186/s12882-019-1586-5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Lijun Zhang ◽

Yangyang Wang ◽

Lianlian Xiong ◽

Yanfang Luo ◽

Zhijun Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Blood Pressure ◽

Exercise Therapy ◽

Cardiovascular Health ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Healthy Population ◽

Short Term

Abstract Background Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, which often lead to physical inactivity that correlates with CKD exacerbation. The benefits of regular exercise to cardiovascular health have been well established in healthy population and highly suggestive in patients with CKD. To further strengthen the evidence base for the management of CKD, this meta-analysis was performed to systematically evaluate the effects of exercise therapy on renal function, blood pressure, blood lipid and body mass index (BMI) in non-dialysis CKD patients. Methods This meta-analysis was conducted following a previous protocol. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effects of exercise therapy in non-dialysis CKD patients were searched in Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and three major Chinese biomedical databases (CNKI, WANGFANG and VIP) from their start date to October 30th, 2018. The Cochrane systematic review methods were applied for quality assessment and data extraction, and Revman version 5.3 was used for systematic review and meta-analysis. Results 13 RCTs, representing 421 patients with non-dialysis CKD, were included in this meta-analysis. Compared to the controls, exercise therapy brought an increase in eGFR (MD = 2.62, 95% CI:0.42 to 4.82, P = 0.02, I2 = 22%), and decreases in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (MD = -5.61, 95% CI:-8.99 to − 2.23, P = 0.001, I2 = 44%), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (MD = -2.87, 95% CI:-3.65 to − 2.08, P < 0.00001, I2 = 16%) and BMI (MD = -1.32, 95% CI:-2.39 to − 0.25, P = 0.02, I2 = 0%) in non-dialysis CKD patients. Exercise therapy of short-term (< 3 months) decreased triglyceride (TG) level (P = 0.0006). However, exercise therapy did not significantly affect serum creatinine (SCr), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL) or low density lipoprotein (LDL) in non-dialysis CKD patients. Conclusion Exercise therapy could benefit non-dialysis CKD patients by increasing eGFR while reducing SBP, DBP and BMI. Additionally, short-term intervention of exercise could decrease TG.

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Psychotherapies for Adolescents with Subclinical and Borderline Personality Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0706743719878975 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 65 (1) ◽

pp. 5-15 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Jennifer Wong ◽

Anees Bahji ◽

Sarosh Khalid-Khan

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Borderline Personality Disorder ◽

Personality Disorder ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Borderline Personality ◽

Treatment Retention ◽

Short Term ◽

Self Injury

Background: Evidence regarding the efficacy of psychotherapy in adolescents with borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptomatology has not been previously synthesized. Objective: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in order to assess the efficacy of psychotherapies in adolescents with BPD symptomatology. Methods: Seven electronic databases were systematically searched using the search terms BPD, adolescent, and psychotherapy from database inception to July 2019. Titles/abstracts and full-texts were screened by one reviewer; discrepancies were resolved via consensus. We extracted data on BPD symptomatology, including BPD symptoms, suicide attempts, nonsuicidal self-injury, general psychopathology, functional recovery, and treatment retention. Data were pooled using random-effects models. Results: Of 536 papers, seven trials (643 participants) were eligible. Psychotherapy led to significant short-term improvements in BPD symptomatology posttreatment ( g = −0.89 [−1.75, −0.02]) but not in follow-up ( g = 0.06 [−0.26, 0.39]). There was no significant difference in treatment retention between the experimental and control groups overall (odds ratio [ OR] 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.92 to 1.12, I 2 = 52%). Psychotherapy reduced the frequency of nonsuicidal self-injury ( OR = 0.34, 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.74) but not suicide attempts ( OR = 1.03, 95% CI, 0.46 to 2.30). Conclusions: There is a growing variety of psychotherapeutic interventions for adolescents with BPD symptomatology that appears feasible and effective in the short term, but efficacy is not retained in follow-up—particularly for frequency of suicide attempts.

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Are digital technology interventions effective to reduce loneliness in older adults? A systematic review and meta-analysis

10.1101/2020.08.27.20183012 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Syed Ghulam Sarwar Shah ◽

David Nogueras ◽

Hugo Cornelis van Woerden ◽

Vasiliki Kiparoglou

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Older Adults ◽

Clinical Trials ◽

English Language ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Future Research ◽

Before And After ◽

Quasi Experimental

Objective: To review the latest literature on the effectiveness of DTIs in reducing loneliness in (older) adults. Data Sources: Electronic searches in PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE and Web of Science covering publication period from 1 January 2010 to 31 July 2019. Subjects: Adult men and women Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis Main Outcome Measure: Loneliness. Study Selection: Primary studies that used DTIs for tackling loneliness in adults (aged ≥18 years) with follow-up measurements at least three months or more and publication in the English language. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Two researchers independently screened articles and extracted data on several variables: participants, interventions, comparators and outcomes. Data was extracted on the primary outcome i.e. loneliness measured at the baseline and follow-up measurements at three, four, six and twelve months after the intervention. Results: Six studies were selected from 4939 articles screened. Selected studies included 5 clinical trials (4 RCTs and 1 quasi experimental study) and one before and after study, which enrolled 646 participants (men =154 (24%), women =427 (66%), no gender information =65 (10%) with average age between 73 and 78 years (SD 6-11). Five clinical trials were included in the meta-analysis and standardised mean differences (SMD) were calculated for each trial and pooled across studies using a random effects model. The overall effect estimates were not statistically significant in follow-up measurements at three months (SMD= 0.02, 95% CI= -0.36, 0.40; P=0.92), four months (SMDs= -1.11, 95% CI= -2.60, 0.38; P=0.14) and six months (SMD= -0.11, 95% CI= -0.54, 0.32; P=0.61). The quality of evidence was very low to moderate in these trials. Conclusions: There is insufficient evidence to make conclusions that DTIs are effective in reducing loneliness in older adults. Future research may consider RCTs with larger sample sizes and longer duration of interventions and follow-up.

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Effect of Premorbid Beta-Blockers on Mortality in Patients With Sepsis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Journal of Intensive Care Medicine ◽

10.1177/08850666211052926 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 088506662110529

Author(s):

Daisuke Hasegawa ◽

Ryota Sato ◽

Narut Prasitlumkum ◽

Kazuki Nishida

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Beta Blockers ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Short Term ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Short Term Mortality ◽

The Impact

Objective The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the impact of premorbid beta-blockers on mortality in patients with sepsis. Data Sources We searched EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and MEDLINE for eligible studies. The protocol was registered at the PROSPERO (CRD42021256813). Study Selection Two authors independently evaluated the following inclusion criteria: (1) randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, cross-sectional studies; (2) patients with sepsis aged ≥18 years, and (3) premorbid beta-blocker use. Data Extraction Two authors extracted the patients’ characteristics and outcomes independently. All analyses were performed using the random-effects models. The primary outcome was short-term mortality, defined as mortality within 30 days, in-hospital or intensive care unit mortality. Data Synthesis Ten studies (n = 24 748 patients) were included. The pooled odds ratio (OR) of short-term mortality associated with the premorbid use of beta-blockers was 0.85 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69-1.04; P = .12; I2 = 50%). Five studies reported an adjusted OR of short-term mortality. The pooled adjusted OR of short-term mortality associated with the premorbid use of beta-blockers was 0.73 (95% CI, 0.65-0.83; P < .001; I2 = 0%). Conclusion Premorbid beta-blockers were associated with a lower short-term mortality in patients with sepsis.

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Comparison of Efficacy among Three Radiofrequency Ablation Techniques for Treating Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18147424 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (14) ◽

pp. 7424

Author(s):

Shih-Hsiang Chou ◽

Po-Chih Shen ◽

Cheng-Chang Lu ◽

Zi-Miao Liu ◽

Yin-Chun Tien ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Radiofrequency Ablation ◽

Knee Osteoarthritis ◽

Baseline Level ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Invasive Treatment ◽

Knee Oa ◽

Before And After

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was first introduced for treating knee osteoarthritis (OA) in 2010 and has emerged as a minimally invasive treatment option. Three RFA techniques have been adopted for treating knee OA, including conventional, pulsed, and cooled RFA. However, the efficacy among different RFA techniques in the treatment of knee OA is still unclear. Three electronic databases were systematically searched for relevant articles, including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library. A meta-analysis of articles that investigated the use of RFA techniques in the treatment of knee OA was conducted to pool the effect size in pain before and after treatment. A total of 20 eligible articles (including 605 patients) were included for our meta-analysis. After treatment, the patients had significant improvements in pain for all three RFA techniques when compared with the baseline level for the 1, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups (p < 0.00001). However, there were no significant differences in the efficacy among the three RFA techniques for all follow-up visits (p > 0.05). The three RFA techniques demonstrated a significant improvement in pain for up to 6 months after treatment. Comparing the efficacy of the three RFA techniques in the treatment of knee OA, our results showed that no significant differences in pain relief among the three RFA techniques were observed at the 1-, 3-, 6, and 12-month follow-up visits.

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The role of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections: rapid living systematic review and meta-analysis

10.1101/2020.04.25.20079103 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Diana C Buitrago-Garcia ◽

Dianne Egli-Gany ◽

Michel J Counotte ◽

Stefanie Hossmann ◽

Hira Imeri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Single Point ◽

Statistical Modelling ◽

Combination Prevention ◽

Modelling Studies ◽

Asymptomatic Infections ◽

Evidence Database

AbstractBackgroundThere is substantial disagreement about the level of asymptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in a population. The disagreement results, in part, from the interpretation of studies that report a proportion of asymptomatic people with SARS-CoV-2 detected at a single point.Review questions1. Amongst people who become infected with SARS-CoV-2, what proportion does not experience symptoms at all during their infection? 2. Amongst people with SARS-CoV-2 infection who are asymptomatic when diagnosed, what proportion will develop symptoms later? 3. What proportion of SARS-CoV-2 transmission is accounted for by people who are either asymptomatic throughout infection, or pre-symptomatic?MethodsRapid living systematic review (protocol https://osf.io/9ewys/). We searched Pubmed, Embase, bioRxiv and medRxiv using a living evidence database of SARS-CoV-2 literature on 25.03.2020. We included studies of people with SARS-CoV-2 diagnosed by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) that documented follow-up and symptom status at the beginning and end of follow-up and modelling studies. Study selection, data extraction and bias assessment were done by one reviewer and verified by a second, with disagreement resolved by discussion or a third reviewer. We used a common-effect model to synthesise proportions from comparable studies.ResultsWe screened 89 studies and included 11. We estimated an upper bound for the proportion of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections of 29% (95% confidence interval 23 to 37%) in eight studies. Selection bias and likely publication bias affected the family case investigation studies. One statistical modelling study estimated the true proportion of asymptomatic infections at 18% (95% credibility interval 16 to 20%). Estimates of the proportions of pre-symptomatic individual in four studies were too heterogeneous to combine. In modelling studies, 40-60% of all SARS-CoV-2 infections are the result of transmission from pre-symptomatic individuals, with a smaller contribution from asymptomatic individuals.ConclusionsAn intermediate contribution of pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic infections to overall SARS-CoV-2 transmission means that combination prevention, with enhanced hand and respiratory hygiene, testing tracing and isolation strategies and social distancing, will continue to be needed. The findings of this systematic review of publications early in the pandemic suggests that most SARS-CoV-2 infections are not asymptomatic throughout the course of infection.

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Nonsurgical Treatments of Patellar Tendinopathy: Multiple Injections of Platelet-Rich Plasma Are a Suitable Option: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

The American Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/0363546518759674 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 47 (4) ◽

pp. 1001-1018 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Luca Andriolo ◽

Sante Alessandro Altamura ◽

Davide Reale ◽

Christian Candrian ◽

Stefano Zaffagnini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Eccentric Exercise ◽

Platelet Rich Plasma ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Patellar Tendinopathy ◽

Study Quality ◽

Short Term ◽

Long Term Follow Up

Background: Patellar tendinopathy is a condition characterized by anterior knee activity–related pain. It has a high incidence among athletes engaged in jumping sports and may become a chronic condition. Nonoperative management is the first choice in these patients, and several nonsurgical treatment options have been proposed. Nonetheless, clear indications on the most effective approach to address patellar tendinopathy are still lacking. Purpose: To analyze the evidence on nonoperative options to treat chronic patellar tendinopathy through a systematic review of the literature and to perform a meta-analysis to identify the most effective nonsurgical option. Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: The search was conducted with the PubMed and Cochrane databases on January 4, 2017. All clinical English-language reports of any level of evidence on nonsurgical treatment of patellar tendinopathy were included. The quality of each article was assessed by use of the Coleman score. A meta-analysis was performed on all articles reporting the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment scale for patellar tendinopathy to evaluate the results of the most described treatments. Results: A total of 70 studies involving 2530 patients were included in the qualitative data synthesis. The Coleman score showed an overall poor study quality. The most described treatment groups that could be included in the meta-analysis were reported in 22 studies on eccentric exercise, extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Single and multiple PRP injections were evaluated separately. Eccentric exercise therapies obtained the best results ( P < .05) at short-term (<6 months, mean 2.7 ± 0.7 months). However, multiple injections of PRP obtained the best results ( P < .05), followed by ESWT and eccentric exercise, at long-term follow-up (≥6 months, mean 15.1 ± 11.3 months). Conclusion: The literature documents several nonsurgical approaches for the treatment of chronic patellar tendinopathy with important limitations in terms of study quality. The available evidence showed an overall positive outcome, but some differences have been highlighted. Eccentric exercises may seem the strategy of choice in the short-term, but multiple PRP injections may offer more satisfactory results at long-term follow-up and can be therefore considered a suitable option for the treatment of patellar tendinopathy.

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