Background: Arthritis at the proximal interphalangeal joint can be a disabling chronic condition.
Silicone arthroplasty is a common surgical treatment option to provide pain relief and …

Background: Trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition is currently
the most popular technique for operative treatment of trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis. …

Background: The randomized controlled trial is a reliable study design for assessing the
effectiveness of a surgical intervention, provided it is adequately powered. This systematic …

Background: There is controversy regarding the superiority of the vertical scar reduction
technique versus the inverted T–shaped reduction technique for breast reduction surgery. …

The case series is the most prevalent type of clinical research in the plastic surgery literature.
However, this is a lower level study design in the hierarchy of evidence. The case series is …

Background: Economic evaluations are quantitative methods comparing alternative
interventions using cost data and expected outcomes. They are used to recommend/dissuade …

Increased spending and reduced funding for health care is forcing decision makers to prioritize
procedures and redistribute funds. Decision making is based on reliable data regarding …

Background: The present study was undertaken to assess the health-related quality of life in
patients with Dupuytren’s disease who undergo palmar fasciectomy. Methods: A …

As described in a previous article in the “users’ guide to the surgical literature” series, 1 you
begin with a Medline search. The terms “venous ulcer” and “guideline” are entered …

PURPOSE: To examine the association between the provision of professional pharmacy
services (PPS) and patient complexity as determined by the number of distinct medications …