A primer in meta-analysis for the plastic surgeon.

Abstract

Meta-analyses are useful tools for clinicians to remain current in their field of study. Meta-analyses are used to gain statistical power through the pooling of results from multiple smaller studies. As the highest level of evidence is considered meta-analysis of high-quality randomized-controlled trials, it is important that the plastic surgeons understand the methodology behind a meta-analysis-herein lies the goal of this article.