Reading and reviewing the orthopaedic literature: a systematic, evidence-based medicine approach

The principles of evidence-based medicine are rapidly gaining acceptance in the field of orthopaedic surgery. This approach to patient care requires a careful, systematic review of the literature to appropriately value the merit of studies. Systematic review assists the orthopaedic surgeon in interpreting study results and in understanding the relative validity of these results in the hierarchy of evidence. Sufficiently valid evidence-based information ultimately will help in making decisions regarding patient care.