Evaluation of Quality of Lower Limb Arthroplasty Observational Studies Using the Assessment of Quality in Lower Limb Arthroplasty (AQUILA) Checklist.
This study used the assessment of quality in lower limb arthroplasty (AQUILA) checklist to assess the quality of lower limb arthroplasty observational studies. Among 132 studies the mean reporting quality score was 5.4 (SD=1.2) out of 8 possible points. Most studies adequately reported reasons for revisions (98%) and prosthesis brand and fixation (95%) in sufficient detail. Only 3% of studies adequately reported the number of patients unwilling to participate, 15% stated a clear primary research question or hypothesis, 11% reported a worst-case analysis or competing risk analysis for endpoints, and 42% reported more than 5% of patients were lost to follow-up. There is significant room for improvement in the reporting and methodology of lower limb arthroplasty observational studies.


METHODS
Level III.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
James B
JB
Cowan
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Ryan A
RA
Mlynarek
Department of Orthopaedics, Leiden University Medical Center, RC Leiden, The Netherlands.
Rob G H H
RG
Nelissen
Department of Orthopaedics, Leiden University Medical Center, RC Leiden, The Netherlands.
Bart G C W
BG
Pijls
Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Joel J
JJ
Gagnier
D001178:Arthroplasty / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D057189:Checklist; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000601:surgery*; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D015588:Observer Variation; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012086:Reoperation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design
AQUILA checklist; lower limb arthroplasty; observational studies; research methodology