title: Reading and reviewing the orthopaedic literature: a systematic, evidence-based medicine approach.
abstract: The principles of evidence-based medicine are rapidly gaining acceptance in the field of orthopaedic surgery. This approach to patient care requires a careful, systematic review of the literature to appropriately value the merit of studies. Systematic review assists the orthopaedic surgeon in interpreting study results and in understanding the relative validity of these results in the hierarchy of evidence. Sufficiently valid evidence-based information ultimately will help in making decisions regarding patient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Vanderbilt University Medical School, Nashville, TN 37232-8774, USA.
authors.forename: Kurt P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Spindler
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.forename: Warren
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: Frank E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Harrell
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Dittus
mesh_terms: D015982:Bias; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D009985:Orthopedics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012107:Research Design