3.5 Pain score
Four studies included data concerning pain score at baseline in the HIFU
and surgery groups. Four studies included a total of 81 and 94 women in
the HIFU and surgery groups, respectively. The MD before interventions
between the two groups was not significantly different, with an
estimated value of 0.17 (95% CI, -0.19 to 0.52). Heterogeneity among
the studies was low (I 2=0%, p=0.37) (Fig. 2A). The mean pain scores
after HIFU or surgery decreased significantly at the postoperation
follow-up compared with baseline in both groups. The pain scores
immediately after management were higher in the HIFU group than in the
surgery group, with an overall MD of -1.58 (95% CI, -2.56 to -0.59,
p=0.002, I2=58%) (Fig. 2B). There was no statistically significant
difference in pain scores at the 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-ups between
the two groups, with overall MDs of -0.01 (95% CI, -0.30 to 0.28,
p=0.94, I2=0%) (Fig. 2C), 0.04 (95% CI, -0.18 to 0.27, p=0.70, I2=0%)
(Fig. 2D) and -0.08 (95% CI, -0.35 to 0.19, p=0.56, I2=0%) (Fig. 2E),
respectively.