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Lee KS, Zhang JJY, Nga VDW, Ng CH, Tai BC, Higgins JPT, Syn NL. Tenets for the Proper Conduct and Use of Meta-Analyses: A Practical Guide for Neurosurgeons. World Neurosurg 2022; 161:291-302.e1. [PMID: 35505547 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.09.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Neurosurgeons today are inundated with rapidly amassing neurosurgical research publications. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses have consequently surged in popularity because, when executed properly, they constitute a high level of evidence and may save busy neurosurgeons many hours of combing and reviewing the literature for relevant articles. Meta-analysis refers to the quantitative (and discretionary) component of systematic reviews. It involves applying statistical techniques to combine effect sizes from multiple studies, which might offer more actionable insights than a systematic review without meta-analysis. Well-executed meta-analyses may prove instructive for clinical practice, but poorly conducted ones sow confusion and have the potential to cause harm. Unfortunately, recent audits have found the conduct and reporting of meta-analyses in neurosurgery (but also other surgical disciplines) to be relatively lackluster in methodologic rigor and compliance to established guidelines. Some of these deficiencies can be easily remedied through better awareness and adherence to prescribed standards-which will be reviewed in this article-but others stem from inherent problems with the source data (e.g., poor reporting of original research) as well as unique constraints faced by surgery as a field (e.g., lack of equipoise for randomized trials, or existence of learning curves for novel surgical procedures, which can lead to temporal heterogeneity), which may require unconventional tools (e.g., cumulative meta-analysis) to address. Therefore, it is also our goal to take stock of the unique issues encountered by surgeons who do meta-analysis and to highlight various techniques-some of which less well-known-to address such challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keng Siang Lee
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - John J Y Zhang
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore; Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Vincent Diong Weng Nga
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore; Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Cheng Han Ng
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Bee Choo Tai
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Biostatistics and Modelling Domain, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Julian P T Higgins
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas L Syn
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Biostatistics and Modelling Domain, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore.
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