Publication of studies presented as free papers at a Brazilian national orthopedics meeting

To evaluate the rate and others factors related with the publication of free papers presented at a national orthopedic meeting.

Using virtual databases we reviewed the studies presented at the 2004 Brazilian Congress of Orthopedics and Traumatology that were published, as well as related factors such as institution, sub-specialty, year, level of evidence, results and comparison between abstract presented and published.

There were 58 studies published from 267 presented (21.73%). Seven (12.1%) were published in international and 51 (87.9%) in national journals, mainly RBO (55%). The publication rate was higher in the year of the event and the following year (37.9%). The sub-specialties of spine and knee showed the best correlation between the numbers of papers presented and published (respectively 40.9% and 37.9%). Most of the studies were cohort (65%) and experimental studies have been 34.5%. There was a tendency to publish positive results or statistically significant. Three institutions were responsible for most of the publications (53.4%). Works with higher level of evidence showed the highest rate of publication. The abstract published was modified in 68.5% of the form the presentation.

This study presents data that compromises the quality of scientific of the abstracts presented at orthopedic meeting: most have a lower level of evidence and nearly 80% are not published.