Needle knife therapy for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Figure 1 Literature search process. CNKI: China National Knowledge Infrastructure; VIP: VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database; RCT: Randomized controlled trial; VAS: Visual Analog Scale.

Figure 2  Risk assessment of included literature.

Figure 3 The difference in effective rates between the experimental group and the control group before and after treatment. A: Forest plot of treatment efficacy; B: Sensitivity analysis. CI: Confidence interval.

Figure 4 The difference in Visual Analog Scale scores before and after treatment. Visual Analog Scale score. A: Forest plot of Visual Analog Scale score; B: Sensitivity analysis; C-E: Subgroup analysis of Visual Analog Scale score. CI: Confidence interval.

Figure 5 Changes in Neck Disability Index scores before and after treatment. A: Neck Disability Index score; B: Sensitivity analysis; C and D: Subgroup analysis of Neck Disability Index score.

Figure 6 Changes in the Yasushi Tanaka cervical spondylitis symptom scale 20 scores score before and after treatment. A: Yasushi Tanaka cervical spondylitis symptom scale 20 scores; B: Sensitivity analysis.

Figure 7 Safety evaluation. CI: Confidence interval.

Figure 8  Publication bias.

Figure 9 Needle-knife mechanism of action. MMP: Matrix metalloproteinase; TIMP: Tissue Inhibitor of metalloproteinase; ECM: Extracellular matrix; TNF: Tumor necrosis factor; IL: Interleukin.