How-To Create an Orthopaedic Systematic Review: A Step-by-Step Guide Part I: Study Design

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic surgery
• Evidence-based medicine
• Research methodology

Background:

• Systematic reviews synthesize evidence from multiple studies, forming a high level of evidence.
• Meta-analyses statistically pool results from 3+ studies, enhancing review power.
• These methods are crucial for answering complex research questions in orthopaedics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive guide for conducting orthopaedic arthroplasty systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
• To outline the essential steps from research question development to publication.
• To serve as a foundational resource for researchers and clinicians in the field.

Main Methods:

• Developing a focused and relevant research question.
• Systematic searching of major databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science).
• Appraisal and synthesis of identified primary studies.

Main Results:

• The review details the process of designing, executing, and publishing systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
• It emphasizes the importance of reproducible methods for evidence appraisal and summarization.
• Key databases and initial screening strategies are discussed.

Conclusions:

• Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are powerful tools for advancing orthopaedic knowledge.
• This guide offers a structured approach to performing high-quality reviews in arthroplasty.
• It encourages rigorous methodology for reliable evidence generation and dissemination.