Table 1. Details of the randomized controlled intervention trials in which at least one arm involved wrist arthroscopy or shoulder arthroscopy (listed in alphabetical order of first author)
Author (first)
yr
Country
Diagnosis
Intervention 1
N1
D/W
Intervention 2
Randomization
W/D method
N2
Time of
randomization
Outcomes
Blinding
Wrist
Kang
2008
USA
Dorsal ganglion
Leblebicioglu
2003
Turkey
Kienbock’s disease
Rocchi
2008
Italy
Volar ganglion
Varitimidis
2008
Greece
Intra-articular distal
radius fracture
Archetti Netto
2012
Brazil
Traumatic anterior
instability + isolated
Bankart lesion
Barber
2012
USA,
Canada
Large rotator cuff
tear
Berth
2010
Germany
Arthroscopic excision
Open scaphocapitate
fusion and lunate
revascularization
41
31
8
13 Open excision
Arthroscopic scaphocapitate fusion and
NR capitate pole excision
Open excision
Arthroscopic and
fluroscopic assisted
reduction + external
fixation and
percutaneous pinning
25
2 Arthroscopic excision
25
20
Fluroscopic assisted
reduction + external
fixation and
NR percutaneous pinning
8
Medical record
Identifier
8 (odd/even)
Last digit of
Medical record
NR (odd/even)
Sealed
1 envelopes
At
presentation
NR
Recurrence, residual
pain, complications
Operative time, LOHS,
time to fusion, ROM,
grip, RTW
ROM, grip, scar, pain,
residual symptoms,
recurrence
NR
Mayo wrist score,
DASH (primary),
clinical wrist instability,
grip, ROM, radiographs NR
At surgery
DASH (primary),
UCLA, Rowe, ROM
NR
ASES, UCLA,
Constant, MRI, ROM,
strength
Assessor
(radiologist)
NR
20
Sealed
NR envelopes
28
Computer;
Sealed
3 envelopes
20
Sealed
NR envelopes
At surgery
21
NR Patient's option
NR
14
Last digit social
security number
2 (odd/even)
NR
32
Sealed
3 envelopes
NR
NR
NR
Shoulder
Arthroscopic repair
Arthroscopic singlerow repair + acellular
human dermal matrix
augmentation
22
22
Bottoni
2002
USA
Massive rotator cuff
tear
Acute, traumatic,
first-time shoulder
dislocations in young
athletes
Bottoni
2006
USA
Recurrent anterior
shoulder instability
Arthroscopic
stabilization
32
Brox
1993
Norway
Impingement
syndrome (stage II)
Arthroscopic
acromioplasty
45
Arthroscopic singlerow rotator cuff repair
USA
Full-thickness rotator
cuff tear
Distal clavicle
osteolysis or posttraumatic acromioclavicular arthrosis
without instability
China
Frozen shoulder
Burks
2009
Charron
2007
Chen
2010
Australia
Arthroscopic partial
rotator cuff repair
Arthroscopic
stabilization
10
Arthroscopic distal
clavicle resection with
a direct approach
Arthroscopic release
of anterior capsular
21
20
19
42
5 Open repair
Arthroscopic single row
NR repair
Arthroscopic debridement + subacromial
NR decompression
Nonoperative treatment
(4 wks immobilization
followed by supervised
1 rehabilitation program)
0 Open stabilization
Supervised exercises;
13 Placebo laser
Arthroscopic double-row
0 rotator cuff repair
Arthroscopic distal
clavicle resection with an
indirect subacromial
1 approach
Arthroscopic release
1 extended inferiorly and
50;30
20
19
32
8;4 NR
Random number
Generator;
Sealed
0 envelopes
Order of
enrollment
3 (odd/even)
Computer;
3 Sealed
Constant, ROM, pain,
DASH, ultrasound
Recurrent instability,
SANE, L'Insalata
shoulder evaluation,
satisfaction
ROM, stability, SANE,
SST, WOSI, UCLA,
Rowe
NR
Mean 2 months
before
Neer shoulder score
treatment
(primary), pain
At surgery
At enrollment
At surgery
UCLA, MRI, ConstantMurley, WORC, SANE,
ASES, ROM, strength
NR
NR
Assessor
(physiotherapist)
Assessor
Assessors
(radiologist and
examiner)
ASES, ATH, time to full
return to sports
NR
Patients and
Constant, ROM
Assessors
structures
De Carli
2012
Italy
Idiopathic adhesive
shoulder capsulitis
Dezaly
2011
France
Rotator cuff tear in
the over-60s
Elmlund
2009
Fabbriciani
2004
Sweden
Italy
Franceschi
2008
Italy
Freedman
2007
USA
Recurrent shoulder
instability
Traumatic anterior
shoulder instability
Rotator cuff tear and
a type II SLAP lesion
in the over-50s
Refractory
acromioclavicular
joint pain
Arthroscopy
arthrolysis and
shoulder manipulation
Arthroscopic biceps
acromioplastytenotomy and repair
0 NR
71
Arthroscopic biceps
3?* acromioplasty-tenotomy
71
12?* NR
30
Open distal clavicle
excision
Arthroscopic rotator
cuff repair +
subacromial
decompression
Arthroscopic singlerow rotator cuff repair
Gumina
2012
Italy
Large full-thickness
posterosuperior
rotator cuff tear
Haahr
2005
Denmark
Subacromial
impingement
Arthroscopic repair
with platelet-leukocyte
membrane
Arthroscopic
subacromial
decompression
Henkus
2009
Netherlands
Primary subacromial
impingement without
rotator cuff rupture
Arthroscopic
subacromial
bursectomy
Hiemstra
2008
Canada
Husby
2003
Norway
Shoulder instability
Impingement
syndrome (Neer
grade II)
Kasten
2011
Germany
Ketola
2009
Finland
Supraspinatus
tendon rupture
Shoulder
impingement
syndrome
21
Arthroscopic repair
Italy
USA
Glenohumeral steroid
2 injections
20
Arthroscopic repair of
both lesions
envelopes
25
Arthroscopic
reconstruction with
polygluconate-B
polymer
Full-thickness rotator
cuff tear + type 2
acromion
Full-thickness rotator
cuff tear
Gartsman
2004
Grasso
2009
posteriorly
31
9
47
40
Arthroscopic
reconstruction with polyL-lactic acid polymer tack
4 implants
NR Open repair
Arthroscopic rotator cuff
tear repair without repair
of the SLAP II lesion but
with tenotomy of the long
2 head of the biceps
Arthroscopic distal
1 clavicle excision
Arthroscopic rotator cuff
repair without
subacromial
NR decompression
Arthroscopic double-row
3 rotator cuff repair
At surgery
Constant, Rowe
NR
Random number
table; Sealed
5 envelopes
At surgery
UCLA, ROM
NR
1 NR
NR
Pain VAS (primary).
modified ASES, SF-36
NR
30
NR Computer
8
46
Random number
NR table
40
1 Arthroscopic repair
40
45
45
27
4 Physiotherapy
Debridement of
subacromial bursa +
arthroscopic
1 acromioplasty
30
5 Computer
Randomization
list;
Sealed
3 envelopes
Computer;
Sealed
2 envelopes
Automatically
generated
randomization
0 code
Open stabilization
Arthroscopic
subacromial
decompression
24
0 Arthroscopic stabilization
24
0 Computer
20
Open subacromial
5 decompression
19
Arthroscopic repair
17
Supervised exercise
70
3 Mini-open technique
Arthroscopic
acromioplasty +
4 supervised exercise
40
17
70
NR
Just before
surgery
Sealed
3 envelopes
Sealed
0 envelopes
Order of
enrollment
1 (first 17/ next 17)
Computer;
Sealed
2 envelopes
Day before
surgery
ROM, ASES, UCLA,
SST, Constant-Murley
Constant, ultrasound
tendon healing
Radiographs, CRP,
Constant, Rowe,
apprehension test,
strength, ROM,
recurrence of instability
20
32
NR
At surgery
NR
Assessor
(radiologist)
At surgery
ASES
DASH, Constant,
strength
3 days before
surgery
Constant, MRI
(primary), SST
Assessors
NR
Constant, pain VAS,
ROM, strength, ADL
NR
NR
Constant, SST , pain
VAS, functional
impairment VAS
Assessor and
group 1 patients
NR
At surgery
NR
NR
Strength (primary),
ASES, ROM
UCLA, pain VAS,
satisfaction VAS,
strength, ROM
NSAID use, pain,
Constant-Murley,
ASES, MRI
Pain VAS, ROM,
strength (primary),
cost-effectiveness
Patients
NR
Assessor
Assessor
Assessor
(radiologist)
Assessor
(physiotherapist)
Kim
2011
Korea
Rotator cuff tear +
asymptomatic
acromioclavicular
arthritis
Kirkley
1999
Canada
First traumatic
anterior dislocation
Koh
2011
South
Korea
Rotator cuff tear
Lindh
1993
Sweden
Shoulder
impingement
Arthroscopic singlerow repair
Arthroscopic
subacromial
decompression
Ma
2012
Taiwan
Full-thickness rotator
cuff tear
Arthroscopic singlerow repair
MacDonald
2011
Canada
Full-thickness rotator
cuff tear
Magnusson
2006
Sweden
Post-traumatic
shoulder instability
Milano
2007
Italy
Full-thickness rotator
cuff tear
Arthroscopic repair +
acromioplasty
Arthroscopic Bankart
reconstruction with
polygluconate copolymer
Arthroscopic repair +
subacromial
decompression
Milano
2010
Italy
Recurrent traumatic
anterior shoulder
instability
Milano
2010
Italy
Full-thickness rotator
cuff tear
Mohtadi
2008
Canada
Full-thickness rotator
cuff tear
Arthroscopic distal
clavicle resection with
rotator cuff repair
Immediate
arthroscopic
stabilization
Arthroscopic repair
with metal suture
anchor
Arthroscopic repair
with metal suture
anchor
Monteiro
2008
Brazil
Oh
2011
South
Korea
Randelli
2011
Italy
Open repair
Arthroscopic repair
with anchors loaded
Traumatic anterior
with absorbable
shoulder instability
sutures
Partial- or fullArthroscopic repair +
thickness rotator cuff HA/carboxymethylated
tear
cellulose injection
Arthroscopic repair +
Complete rotator cuff autologous platelet
tear
rich plasma
UK
First-time traumatic
anterior dislocation
Robinson
2008
Arthroscopic
examination and
lavage
31
Arthroscopic rotator cuff
2 repair
52
Random number
4 table
NR
19
Immobilization and
0 rehabilitation
21
2 NR
NR
37
Arthroscopic double-row
6 repair
34
3 Computer
At surgery
10
0 Open acromioplasty
10
NR
32
Arthroscopic double-row
5 repair
32
ASES, UCLA, pain, AC
joint tenderness, cross
body adduction test
NR
WOSI, ROM,
redislocation
Pain VAS, Constant,
ASES, UCLA, re-tear,
MRI
Assessor
Assessors
(radiologist and
examiner)
At surgery
Osteophyte recurrence,
ROM, UCLA
NR
UCLA, ASES, strength,
magnetic resonance
arthrography
NR
At surgery
WORC (primary),
ASES, revision
Patients and
Assessor
45
20
9 Arthroscopic repair
Arthroscopic Bankart
reconstruction with selfreinforced poly-L-lactic
0 acid polymer
0 NR
Computer;
Sealed
6 envelopes
Computer;
Sealed
9 envelopes
20
Sealed
0 envelopes
Just before
surgery
Strength, ROM, Rowe,
Constant, stability,
radiography
Assessor
(radiologist)
40
3 Arthroscopic repair
40
At surgery
Constant, DASH
NR
At surgery
DASH (primary),,Rowe,
Constant, recurrence
Assessor
36
6 Computer
Random
sequence
generator;
Sealed
5 envelopes
Random
sequence
6 generator
Computer;
Sealed
5 envelopes
25
Sealed
1 envelopes
41
37
Arthroscopic repair with
biodegradable suture
3 anchor
Arthroscopic repair with
biodegradable suture
3 anchor
Arthroscopic
acromioplasty with mini8 open repair
25
Arthroscopic repair with
anchors loaded with
4 nonabsorbable sutures
39
55
39
55
40
NR Arthroscopic repair
40
26
4 Arthroscopic repair
27
45
Arthroscopic examination
3 and Bankart lesion repair
43
NR Computer
Computer;
Sealed
4 envelopes
Computer;
weighted
1 minimization
At surgery
NR
NR
NR
At surgery
NR
DASH, Constant
RC-QOL (primary),
ASES, SRQ, FSET,
ROM, strength
Assessor
Rowe, ASOSS
Pain VAS, PROM,
ASES,
ultrasonography, CTA
Pain VAS, SST, UCLA,
Constant, strength,
MRI
Recurrence, functional
scores, DASH, patient
satisfaction, SF-36,
WOSI, ROM, cost
Assessor
Assessor
Injection and
Assessor
Assessors
(radiologist and
examiner)
Patients and
Assessor
(physiotherapist)
Rodeo
2012
USA
Full-thickness rotator
cuff tear
Arthroscopic repair +
platelet-rich fibrin
matrix
Sachs
1994
USA
Impingement
syndrome (stage II)
Arthroscopic
acromioplasty
Shin
2012
South
Korea
Shin
2012
South
Korea
Small-medium
rotator cuff tear
Partial-thickness
articular-sided rotator
cuff tear
Arthroscopic repair +
acromioplasty
Arthroscopic repair
with transtendon
technique
Silberberg
2011
Spain
Spangehl
2002
Canada
Sperber
2001
Sweden
Syed
2010
USA
Tan
2006
UK
Taverna
2007
Italy
Wintzell
1996
Sweden
40
5 Arthroscopic repair
39
Sealed
7 envelopes
22
3 Open acromioplasty
22
0 NR
75
15 NR
75
15 Arthroscopic repair
At surgery
Healing on ultrasound
(primary), ASES,
L'Insalata, manual
muscle testing
Patients and
Assessor
NR
Pain, function, ROM,
strength, RTA, LOHS
NR
VAS, UCLA, ASES,
Constant, MRI, ROM
Pain and satisfaction
VAS, ASES, Constant,
MRI, ROM
NR
Assessors
(radiologist and
examiner)
Before surgery
24
Arthroscopic repair with
0 full-thickness conversion
24
0 Computer
At surgery
Isolated type II SLAP Arthroscopic repair
lesion
with vertical suture
15
Arthroscopic repair with
0 horizontal suture
17
0 Minimization
At surgery
Impingement
syndrome
Arthroscopic
acromioplasty
32
?/25* Open acromioplasty
30
Traumatic anterior
shoulder instability
Soft tissue fluid
retention after
shoulder arthroscopy
Arthroscopic
stabilization
30
NR Open stabilization
26
Sealed
NR envelopes
14
Sealed
0 envelopes
NR
65
Sealed
4 envelopes
At surgery
Recurrent traumatic
anterior instability
Chronic
supraspinatus
tendinosis
Acute traumatic
primary anterior
dislocation
Fenestrated outflow
cannula
Arthroscopic Bankart
repair with
nonabsorbable anchor
Arthroscopic
subacromial
decompression
Arthroscopic lavage
14
?/25* NR
NR
At surgery
65
0 Conventional cannula
Arthroscopic Bankart
repair with absorbable
2 anchor
30
Radiofrequency-based
0 plasma microtenotomy
30
Sealed
0 envelopes
Just before
surgery
15
0 Conservative treatment
15
0 NR
NR
Pain and instability
VAS, ASES, ROM
Pain and function VAS
(primary), UCLA,
satisfaction, strength
Recurrence, ROM,
apprehension sign,
relocation test,
Constant, Rowe
Fluid weight gain
OISS, pain and
instability VAS, SF-12,
recurrence
Pain VAS, Constant,
ASES, UCLA, SF-36
Recurrence,
apprehension test,
ROM, Lysholm score
Assessor
Assessor
NR
Patients
Patients and
Assessors
Patients and
Assessor
(physician)
Assessor
Abbreviations in alphabetical order:
ADL – Activities of Daily Living; ASES – American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons shoulder score; ASOSS – Athletic Shoulder Outcome Scoring System; ATH – Athletic Shoulder Scoring System score; Constant –
Constant shoulder score; CRP – C-Reactive Protein; CTA – Computed Tomography Arthrography; DASH – Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score; D/W – dropouts/withdrawals; FSET – Functional
Shoulder Elevation Test; LOHS – length of hospital stay; MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging; N – number of patients randomized; NR – not reported; OISS – Oxford Instability Shoulder Score; PROM – Passive
Range Of Motion; RC-QOL – Rotator Cuff Quality Of Life score; ROM – Range Of Motion; Rowe – Rowe shoulder score; RTA – return to activities; RTW – return to work; SANE – Single Assessment Numeric
Evaluation score; SF-12 – Short Form 12 survey; SF-36 – Short Form 36 survey; SRQ – Shoulder Rating Questionnaire; SST – Simple Shoulder Test; UCLA – University of California-Los Angeles shoulder rating
scale; VAS – Visual Analogue Scale; WORC – Western Ontario Rotator Cuff index; WOSI – Western Ontario Shoulder Instability index
*Dropouts/withdrawals were mentioned but the exact number in each group was not clear in the article