Table 2 Example of Medline OvidSP Search Strategy

1

incidence.sh.

2

follow-up studies.sh.

3

prognos*.tw.

4

predict*.tw.

5

course*.tw.

6

1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5

7

Lumbar Vertebrae/ or lumbar.mp.

8

Lumbosacral.mp. [mp = title, abstract, original title, name of substance word, subject heading word, keyword heading word, protocol supplementary concept word, rare disease supplementary word, unique identifier]

9

Intervertebral Disc/ or low back.mp.

10

7 or 8 or 9

11

sciatica.mp. or exp. Sciatica/

12

radicular pain.mp. or Radiculopathy/

13

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/ or Intervertebral Disc Displacement/ or degenerative disc disease.mp.

14

Low back pain.mp. or Low Back Pain/

15

11 or 12 or 13 or 14

16

Discectomy.mp. or exp. Discectomy/

17

Discectomy.mp. [mp = title, abstract, original title, name of substance word, subject heading word, keyword heading word, protocol supplementary concept word, rare disease supplementary word, unique identifier]

18

Microsurgery/ or microdiscectomy.mp. or Discectomy, Percutaneous/

19

Laminectomy.mp. or Laminectomy/

20

16 or 17 or 18 or 19

21

6 and 10 and 15 and 20