Orthoanswer is written by health professionals at Western Health, Melbourne. Every page is checked against published research by the editor in chief before it goes live. This page explains how.
Who writes the pages
The editor in chief is Professor Phong Tran, an orthopaedic surgeon and Head of Orthopaedic Surgery at Western Health. He reviews every page. As other health professionals join as reviewers, this page will name them and say which pages each one reviews.
Where the facts come from
We use the best research we can find, in this order:
- Systematic reviews and Cochrane reviews
- Randomised controlled trials
- Large registry studies, such as the Australian joint replacement registry
- Clinical guidelines from bodies such as the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, NICE and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Expert opinion, only when nothing better exists, and we say so
Every page lists its sources at the bottom. We do not use advertising, product websites or single case reports as sources.
When a treatment does not work
If the research shows a treatment does not help, we say so, even if the treatment is popular. We would rather you know what the evidence shows than what you hope to hear.
How often pages are checked
Every page shows the date it was last reviewed. Pages are reviewed at least every two years. Pages where the research is still changing, or that rest on a single trial, are reviewed every year. When a large new study changes the advice, the page is updated sooner and a note at the top explains what changed.
Money and conflicts of interest
Orthoanswer takes no money from drug companies, implant makers or advertisers. The editor in chief works in public and private practice. Orthoanswer does not promote any clinic, surgeon or product, and gives no contact details for any practice.
Mistakes
If you find something wrong, tell us through the contact form. We check every report and fix errors. Corrections are listed on our corrections page with the date.
What Orthoanswer is not
Orthoanswer is general information. It cannot tell you what is right for you. Always talk to your own doctor or physiotherapist before changing your treatment.
For how Orthoanswer pages are structured and written, see our Editorial Policy. To see what has changed on the site, see Corrections and updates.