Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40044846›Full record

ArticleCommunications medicine2025

Treatment modalities for patients with Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome Type II: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Lisa Goudman, Marc Russo, Julie G Pilitsis, Sam Eldabe, Rui V Duarte, Maxime Billot, Manuel Roulaud, Philippe Rigoard, Maarten Moens

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Communications medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Lisa GoudmanSTIMULUS research group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. lisa.goudman@vub.be.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2271-9855
Marc RussoHunter Pain Specialists, NSW, Broadmeadow, Australia.
Julie G PilitsisDepartment of Neurosurgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA.
Sam EldabePain Clinic, The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK.
Rui V DuarteLiverpool Reviews and Implementation Group, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6485-7415
Maxime BillotPRISMATICS Lab (Predictive Research in Spine/Neuromodulation Management and Thoracic Innovation/Cardiac Surgery), Poitiers University Hospital, Poitiers, France.
Manuel RoulaudPRISMATICS Lab (Predictive Research in Spine/Neuromodulation Management and Thoracic Innovation/Cardiac Surgery), Poitiers University Hospital, Poitiers, France.
Philippe RigoardPRISMATICS Lab (Predictive Research in Spine/Neuromodulation Management and Thoracic Innovation/Cardiac Surgery), Poitiers University Hospital, Poitiers, France.
Maarten MoensSTIMULUS research group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAppropriate management of patients with Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome Type 2 (PSPS-T2) remains challenging. The need for robust evidence for treatment modalities is urgently pressing. The aim of this systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) is to compare different treatment modalities for patients with PSPS-T2 on pain intensity.

methodsThe study protocol was prospectively registered (PROSPERO;CRD42022360160). Four different databases were consulted from database inception to December 18th, 2023. Randomised controlled trials of interventions for PSPS-T2 were included. The revised Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was used to assess risk of bias. A NMA with standardized mean differences was calculated with pairwise comparisons between all treatment modalities.

resultsHere we include 49 studies in the systematic review and 13 in NMA. A high risk of bias is indicated for 65.3% of the studies. Half of the studies investigate neuromodulation (mainly Spinal Cord Stimulation), 16 explore minimal invasive treatment options (predominantly epidural injections), 6 studies focus on conservative treatments (physiotherapy/cognitive training and medication) and 2 on reoperation. Comparison of neuromodulation versus a combination of conservative and minimal invasive options results in an effect size of 0.45 (95% CI: 0.14-0.76), clearly favouring neuromodulation (z = 2.88; p = 0.004). Additionally, neuromodulation results in a standardised mean difference of 0.36 (95% CI: 0.18-0.53) compared to placebo/sham (z = 4.03; p < 0.0001). No statistically significant difference is found between conservative options and neuromodulation.

conclusionsNeuromodulation, followed by conservative treatment options, seems to be the most effective treatment option to obtain pain relief in patients with PSPS-T2. Nevertheless, a personalized approach tailored to individual patient needs is essential for optimizing outcomes, since interventions should be adjusted based on the failure or success of prior therapies.

Identifiers

PMID40044846
PMCPMC11882973

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.