Can We Trust Knee Meniscus Studies? One-Way Crossover Confounds Intent-to-Treat Statistical Methods.
Randomized controlled studies have a high level of evidence. However, some patients are not treated in the manner to which they were randomized and actually switch to the alternative treatment (crossover). In such cases, "intent-to-treat" statistical methods require that such a switch be ignored, resulting in bias. Thus, the study conclusions could be wrong. This bias is a common problem in the knee meniscus literature.
James H
JH
Lubowitz
Ralph B
RB
D'Agostino
Matthew T
MT
Provencher
Michael J
MJ
Rossi
Jefferson C
JC
Brand
D015982:Bias; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D018579:Patient Selection; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries / Q000628:therapy