Table 2 Characteristics of the Thirty-two Trials
Characteristics | No. of Studies (%) |
|---|---|
Total No. of RCTs | 32 (100%) |
First author | |
Surgeon | 31 (97%) |
Nonsurgeon | 1 (3%) |
Epidemiology affiliation | |
Yes | 3 (9%) |
No | 29 (91%) |
Category of trial | |
Fracture treatment | 7 (22%) |
Treatment of degenerative disease | 11 (34%) |
Drug trial | 4 (13%) |
Pain management | 0 (0%) |
Other | 10 (31%) |
Region of body | |
Upper extremity | 5 (16%) |
Lower-extremity long bones | 2 (6%) |
Spine | 2 (6%) |
Hip | 5 (16%) |
Knee | 9 (28%) |
Foot and ankle | 6 (19%) |
Soft tissue | 2 (6%) |
DVT | 1 (3%) |
Number of centres | |
Single | 26 (81%) |
Multi | 6 (19%) |
Funding received | |
Yes | 17 (53%) |
No | 15 (47%) |
Direction of results | |
Positive | 24 (75%) |
Negative | 8 (25%) |
CONSORT | |
Yes | 4 (13%) |
No | 28 (87%) |