Parachute use to prevent death and major trauma related to gravitational challenge: systematic review of randomised controlled trials.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether parachutes are effective in preventing major trauma related to gravitational challenge.


METHODS
Systematic review of randomised controlled trials.


METHODS
Medline, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases; appropriate internet sites and citation lists.


METHODS
Studies showing the effects of using a parachute during free fall.


METHODS
Death or major trauma, defined as an injury severity score > 15.


RESULTS
We were unable to identify any randomised controlled trials of parachute intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
As with many interventions intended to prevent ill health, the effectiveness of parachutes has not been subjected to rigorous evaluation by using randomised controlled trials. Advocates of evidence based medicine have criticised the adoption of interventions evaluated by using only observational data. We think that everyone might benefit if the most radical protagonists of evidence based medicine organised and participated in a double blind, randomised, placebo controlled, crossover trial of the parachute.
Smith
Gordon C S
GC
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cambridge University, Cambridge CB2 2QQ. gcss2@cam.ac.uk
Pell
Jill P
JP
D000060:Accidents, Aviation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011482:Protective Devices; D017594:Publication Bias; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014925:Wit and Humor as Topic; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*