The Fragility Index of Hip Arthroscopy Randomized Controlled Trials: A Systematic Survey
Authors
Maldonado DR, Go CC, Huang BH, Domb BG
DOI: 10.1016/j.arthro.2021.01.049
Background
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard in clinical research, but the fragility of their results is important to consider. The fragility index (FI) measures how robust the results of a study are, showing how much a study's conclusions can change with a small change in data (such as losing a few participants).
Methods
This study analyzed 8 hip arthroscopy RCTs, calculating the FI for each trial. They assessed the risk of bias and reviewed factors like patient dropout and study design that can affect results.
Key Findings
The median FI was found to be 4, indicating that the findings of these studies could be easily changed with a small number of changes in the data (e.g., patient dropouts). Four studies had a dropout rate higher than their FI, suggesting fragility.
Conclusions
The findings of hip arthroscopy RCTs are often fragile, meaning they could be easily influenced by factors like patient dropout or subjective measurements. Researchers need to consider the reliability of results before drawing conclusions.
What Does This Mean for Patients
Patients should be aware that while RCTs provide valuable information, the conclusions drawn from some studies may not always be as robust as they seem. It’s important to consider these factors when discussing treatment options.