Overview
Start Module Featured Article
Millbourn D, Cengiz Y, Israelsson LA. Effect of stitch length on wound complications after closure of midline incisions: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Surg 2009;144(11):1056-59
Expert Reviews
Methodological Review: Robin McLeod MD, FRCSC, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto
Clinical Review: Parag Bhanot MD, FACS, Department of Surgery, Georgetown University
Clinical Review: Fred Brenneman MD, FRCSC, FACS, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto
Clinical Review: Ori Rotstein MD, MSc, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto
Supplementary Article
Urshel JD, Goldsmith GH, Tandan VR et al; Users’ Guide to Evidence-Based Surgery: How to Use an Article Evaluating Surgical Interventions. Can J Surg. 2001;44(2):95-100
Questions
- What is the clinical question being addressed?
- Was the assignment of patients to treatment randomized and concealed?
- Were all patients who entered into the trial properly accounted for and attributed for at its conclusion?
- Were patients, their clinicians and study personnel “blind” to treatment?
- Were the groups similar at the start of the trial?
- Aside from the experimental intervention, were the groups treated equally?
- Were the measured outcomes clinically relevant?
- How large and precise was the treatment effect?
- Were the study patients similar to your patients?
- Are your surgical skills similar to those of the study surgeons?
- State the conclusion. Have the authors addressed the clinical question?
- Does the evidence support the conclusion?