Affiliation:
1. Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jefferson Health, Stratford, NJ
2. The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
Abstract
Evidence-based medicine drives medical decision-making in the modern era, which has historically favored randomized control trials. Despite their notoriety, randomized control trials have multiple disadvantages when applied to spinal surgery. Observational studies are popular in spinal surgery literature and are seen in various forms, such as retrospective studies and prospective cohort studies. For researchers, learners, and practicing spine surgeons, this paper describes options for study design when applied to spinal surgery.
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Subject
Neurology (clinical),Orthopedics and Sports Medicine,Surgery