Analysis of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Publications Between 2008-2017 in Brazil

Abstract

Aim: Medicine has been based on empirical knowledge since Galen time. The term evidence-based medicine is more recent, appearing for the first time in 1992. To analyze the articles on Shoulder and Elbow Surgery published by Brazilian authors between 2008 and 2017.

Methods: Two researchers independently performed a search of journal articles on Shoulder and Elbow Surgery published by Brazilian authors in two orthopedic journals: Brazilian Journal of Orthopedics (RBO) and Brazilian Orthopedic Act (Acta) between 2008 and 2017. A third researcher searched PUBMED for Brazilian Shoulder and Elbow Surgery specialists to identify relevant articles in other national and international journals. After selection, the articles were classified by the level of evidence based on the classification proposed by the Oxford Center for Evidence-based Medicine.

Results: Between 2008 and 2017, 333 articles on Shoulder and Elbow surgeries were published by Brazilian authors in national and international journals. Of these, 93 were published in international journals, 24 in national journals (excluding Acta and RBO), 172 in the Brazilian Journal of Orthopedics, and 44 in the Acta Ortopédica Magazine. Authors from the state of São Paulo accounted for about 68% of the articles. There was a predominance of articles with a level of evidence of 4 and 5, and of the works with level 1, 66.7% were published in international journals.

Conclusion: There was a predominance of articles with a level of evidence of 4 and 5, and of the works with level 1, 66.7% were published in international journals.