Optimal case definitions of upper extremity disorder for use in the clinical treatment and referral of patients.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Experts disagree about the optimal classification of upper extremity disorders. To explore whether differential response to treatments offers a basis for choosing between case definitions, we analyzed previously published research.

Methods

We screened 183 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of treatments for upper extremity disorders identified from the bibliographies of 10 Cochrane reviews and 4 other systematic reviews, and a search in Medline, Embase, and Google Scholar to June 2010. From these, we selected RCTs that allowed estimates of benefit (expressed as relative risks [RRs]) for >1 case definition to be compared when other variables (treatment, comparison group, followup time, outcome measure) were effectively held constant. Comparisons of RRs for paired c

SUBMITTER: Palmer KT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3428871 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature