Interventions for treating proximal humeral fractures in adults (Review)

A development of the Cochrane Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma
Group quality assessment tool (see Group details) was used in
the evaluation of all the included trials. At minimum, two review
authors independently assessed each paper, without masking of
journal sources, authors and supporting institutions. Table 1 shows
the scoring scheme based on 11 aspects of trial methodology. From
the fourth update (Issue 2, 2007) of this review, the scores of the
individual items for each trial were no longer summed.
Table 1. Methodological quality assessment scheme
Items Scores Notes
1. Was the assigned treatment adequately
concealed prior to allocation?
2. Were the outcomes of trial participants
who withdrew described and included in
the analyses, and all participants analysed
according to the group allocated at randomisation
(intention to treat)?
3. Were the outcome assessors blinded to
treatment status?
4. Were important baseline characteristics
reported and comparable?
5. Were the trial participants blind to assignment
status after allocation?
6. Were the treatment providers blind to
assignment status?
3 = method did not allow disclosure of assignment.
1 = small but possible chance of disclosure
of assignment or unclear.
0 = quasi-randomised or open list/tables.
3 = withdrawals well described and accounted
for in analysis.
1 = withdrawals described and analysis not
possible.
0 = no mention, inadequate mention, or
obvious differences and no adjustment.
3 = effective action taken to blind assessors.
1 = small or moderate chance of unblinding
of assessors, or some blinding of outcomes
attempted.
0 = not mentioned or not possible.
3 = good comparability of groups, or confounding
adjusted for in analysis.
1 = confounding small, mentioned but not
adjusted for, or comparability reported in
text without confirmatory data.
0 = large potential for confounding, or not
discussed.
3 = effective action taken to blind participants.
1 = small or moderate chance of unblinding
of participants.
0 = not possible, not mentioned, or possible
but not done.
3 = effective action taken to blind treatment
providers.
1 = small or moderate chance of unblinding
of treatment providers.
Interventions for treating proximal humeral fractures in adults (Review)
Copyright © 2008 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cochrane code (see Handbook): Clearly
Yes = A; Not sure = B; Clearly no = C.
The principal confounders were considered
to be age, gender and type of fracture.
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