Visualizing the Randomized Sham-controlled Trial in Orthopedic Research: Proposed Steps to Conducting a Total Knee Arthroplasty Randomized Controlled Trial

Overview

Journal J Comp Eff Res

Specialty Health Services

Date 2023 Feb 27

PMID 36847310

Authors

Audrey A Tran

Vinay Prasad

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Performed more than 600,000 times annually in the USA alone, total knee arthroplasty is the one of the most common and costly elective operations in the world. A primary total knee arthroplasty is generally an elective procedure, for which total index hospitalization costs are estimated around $30,000 USD. Roughly four in five patients declare they are satisfied postoperatively, justifying the procedure's frequency and high costs. It is sobering to realize, however, that the evidence base in favor of this procedure remains circumstantial. We as a profession lack randomized trials showing a subjective improvement over placebo intervention. We argue for the necessity of sham-controlled surgical trials in this setting and provide a surgical atlas showing how a sham operation may be performed.

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