RT Journal
A1 Ahn, Henry
A1 Bhandari, Mohit
A1 Schemitsch, Emil H.
T1 An Evidence-Based Approach to the Adoption of New Technology
JF The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
JO The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
YR 2009
FD May 1
VO 91
IS Supplement_3
SP 95
OP 98
DO 10.2106/JBJS.H.01593
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.H.01593
AB New orthopaedic technology is constantly being developed to help improve patient care. New technology may lead to a waste of resources or lead to harm for the patient if it is not properly evaluated before it is accepted as a standard of care. The purpose of this article is to assess how new technology can be implemented safely while maintaining an environment that allows for surgical innovation through an evidence-based approach. Although randomized controlled trials (Level-I evidence) are typically seen as the so-called gold standard with regard to treatment efficacy, randomized trials may not be the most effective form of evaluating a new technology. In many circumstances, a prospective cohort series or large registry that documents outcomes and adverse events may be more effective and practical for the evaluation of a new surgical technology.