Randomised controlled trials in hand surgery: a scoping review.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To identify the evidence gaps that exist regarding the efficacy or effectiveness of hand surgery.

Setting

A scoping review. We systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase and CENTRAL databases to identify all hand surgical randomised controlled trials from inception to 7 November 2020.

Results

Of the 220 identified randomised controlled trials, none were fundamental efficacy trials, that is, compared surgery with placebo surgery. 172 (78%) trials compared the outcomes of different surgical techniques, and 143 (65%) trials were trauma related. We identified only 47 (21%) trials comparing surgery with non-operative care or injection.

Conclusion

The evidence supporting use of surgery especially for chronic hand conditions is scarce. To determine optimal car

SUBMITTER: Heikkinen J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9557326 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature