Clinical trials in Trauma and Orthopaedics : time to think Bayesian?

Abstract

This aim of this annotation is to provide greater knowledge about Bayesian methodology when used in the design of clinical trials and in the analysis of the findings, including the potential benefits and limitations of this approach in Trauma and Orthopaedic surgery. We outline how adopting Bayesian methodology could serve as a feasible and potentially more relevant basis for the design and conduct of future randomized controlled trials in our specialty. It also provides background methodological context for the paper 'High-dose dual-antibiotic cement for hip hemiarthroplasty: a post-hoc Bayesian analysis of a randomized controlled trial', which is published in this issue.