The Fragility of Statistical Significance in Cartilage Restoration of the Knee: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The purpose of this study was to utilize fragility analysis to assess the robustness of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the management of articular cartilage defects of the knee. We hypothesize that the cartilage restorative literature will be fragile with the reversal of only a few outcome events required to change statistical significance.

Design

RCTs from 11 orthopedic journals indexed on PubMed from 2000 to 2020 reporting dichotomous outcome measures relating to the management of articular cartilage defects of the knee were included. The Fragility Index (FI) for each outcome was calculated through the iterative reversal of a single outcome event until significance was reversed. The Fragility Quotient (FQ) was calculated by dividing each FI by stu

SUBMITTER: Parisien RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8808853 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature