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Controlled trials in aesthetic plastic surgery: a 16-year analysis
1Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University of Freiburg Medical Center, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
|December 7, 2007
Summary
Controlled trials, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), are rarely published in aesthetic surgery. While recent RCT publication rates are increasing, overall trial numbers remain low and reporting quality needs enhancement.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Evidence-Based Medicine
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Aesthetic surgery is a significant component of plastic surgery.
- Systematic reviews identifying high-level evidence like randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials (CCTs) are infrequent in this subspecialty.
- Existing literature predominantly focuses on advancements rather than rigorous trial methodologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and quantify the prevalence of RCTs and CCTs in aesthetic surgery.
- To assess the quality of reporting for identified controlled trials.
- To analyze trends in controlled trial publications and their geographical distribution.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive analysis of all original articles published in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
- Identification and inclusion of all RCTs and CCTs meeting predefined criteria.
- Assessment of reporting quality using established items, alongside investigation of statistical significance, institutional affiliation, and country of origin.
Main Results:
- Only 1% (11 articles) were RCTs and 2.3% (24 articles) were CCTs out of 1,048 original articles analyzed.
- Reporting quality was suboptimal, with limited use of blinding and allocation concealment.
- An increasing trend in RCT publications was observed over the last five years, primarily from North America and Europe.
Conclusions:
- Controlled trials are infrequently conducted and published within aesthetic surgery.
- Despite a recent rise in RCT publications, the overall rate remains low.
- Enhancing the quality of reporting in aesthetic surgery trials is crucial for advancing evidence-based practice.
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