title: Evidence-based medicine in hand surgery: clinical applications and future direction.
abstract: Evidence-based medicine empowers physicians to systematically analyze published data so as to quickly formulate treatment plans that deliver safe, robust, and cost-effective patient care. In this article, we sample some areas in hand and upper extremity surgery where the evidence base is strong enough that it has or should have unified treatment strategies; we identify some problems where good evidence has failed to unify treatment, and discuss problems for which evidence is still lacking but needed because treatment remains controversial. We also discuss circumstances in which level 4 evidence is more likely than randomized trials to guide treatment.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, 4860 Y Street, Suite 3800, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Zafonte
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, 4860 Y Street, Suite 3800, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. Electronic address: rmszabo@ucdavis.edu.
authors: Robert M
authors: RM
authors: Szabo
mesh_terms: D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D034941:Upper Extremity
keywords: Evidence-based medicine; Hand surgery; Upper extremity surgery