Table 1 Characteristics of the selected guidelines

Canadian Consensus Conference [8]

X

2000–2004

Ottawa Panel [11]

X

Not mentioned (published in 2005)

Schnitzer/American College of Rheumatology [7]

X

X

X

X

X

X

Not mentioned (published in 2002)

European League Against Rheumatism [6]

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

1966–2002

Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement [9]

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Not mentioned (published in 2004)

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons [10]

X

X

X

X

X

X

1990–2000