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Published on: May 26, 2026
Conflicts of Interest and Industry Influence in Randomized Controlled Trials in Hand Surgery: A Systematic Review
Gabriel Henrique Dos Santos Guimarães1, Ramon Sampaio Souza Santos1, Luís Renato Nakachima1
1Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Revista Brasileira De Ortopedia
|July 29, 2026
Summary
Conflict of interest did not influence outcomes in hand surgery randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Industry-funded studies appeared in higher-impact journals but showed no increased risk of bias.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Medical Research Integrity
Background:
- Industry funding in medical research can raise concerns about potential bias.
- Understanding the impact of conflicts of interest on study outcomes is crucial for evidence-based practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between conflicts of interest and pro-funder results in hand surgery randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
- To assess the influence of industry funding on the bibliometric characteristics of these RCTs.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of 178 RCTs published between 2013 and 2023 in high-impact hand surgery journals.
- Assessment of declared conflicts of interest, primary outcomes, CONSORT guideline adherence, author numbers, journal impact factors, and risk of bias (using RoB 2 tool).
Main Results:
- No significant relationship was found between conflicts of interest and pro-funder results (p=0.503).
- Industry-funded studies were published in higher impact factor journals (3.05 vs. 2.2, p<0.001) and had more funded authors (1.84 vs. 0.07, p<0.001).
Conclusions:
- Funding source did not significantly influence favorable outcomes in hand surgery RCTs.
- While industry-funded studies appeared in higher-impact journals and adhered more to CONSORT guidelines, this did not correlate with an increased risk of bias.