Let’s assume we were to compare the rates of rotator-cuff repairs that included and did not include graft enhancement. These results showed statistically significant benefits to the graft, according to our research fellow.
But, she checked her data again and found that one of the patients in the no-graft-group who was initially thought to have suffered a retear had actually received an intact repair. After analyzing the data again, it became clear that grafting had no benefit.
Our study, as can be seen from the Fragility Index calculator, had a fragility score of one. This means that only one result could change in order for statistical significance to be lost.
The Statistical Fragility of Studies on Rotator Cuff Repair With Graft Augmentation aimed to determine the fragility quotient and the fragility index (FI) in order to study the potential benefits of augmenting rotator cuff (RCR), with a graft. An LTF (lost to follow-up) value higher than the FI is indicative of statistical instability.
The systematic review was done to find studies that compared RCR with graft enhancement. The 17 studies (representing 1,098 patients) included the least number of statistically analyzed dichotomous outcomes variables for graft…
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