Evidence-based medicine for every day, everyone, and every therapeutic study

Reading between the Lines: A Plastic Surgeon's Guide to Evaluating the Quality of Evidence in Research Publications

An important component of practicing evidence-based medicine (EBM) in plastic surgery is staying current with published research, an increasingly difficult task given the rapid growth of the literature. This article reviews the methodological aspects specific to the aesthetic surgery field that should be considered when evaluating the quality of evidence in research publications in the context of the level of evidence (LOE) grading scales that are currently used by plastic surgery journals. Reporting the LOE in a research publication can help to highlight the quality of the research and the potential for bias so that the reader may prioritize information accordingly. However, LOE classifications are not an absolute index of the quality of evidence and do not preclude careful evaluation of the study’s methods and results in the context of the authors’ conclusions. As the application of evidence-based medicine expands in the plastic surgery community, surgeons must be mindful of how to appropriately interpret research findings and assess the utility of applying results to their practice.

Functional assessment using short tests in a patient with Pompe disease receiving enzyme replacement therapy: case report

Introduction: Pompe disease is characterized by the deficiency of the acid alfa glucosidase enzyme, which leads to a glycogen accumu­lation mainly in cardiac and skeletal muscles. Its onset may be early or late; the late form is more difficult to handle given the variety of presenta­tions. Enzyme replacement therapy has shown to improve gross motor function and lung function in patients.Case description: Female patient who presented chronic quadriparesis. She was diagnosed with Pompe disease, which required enzyme replace­ment therapy that helped improve the symptoms, which was evident with the performance of rapid functional evaluation tests.Discussion: Enzyme replacement therapy in Pompe disease modifies the natural history of the disease. A brief review of the literature about the functional tests that can be used to assess a patient with this disorder is presented.Conclusion: The 10-meter walk test, one-leg stance test, cervical flexion in supine position, five times sit to stand test, and coin rotation task are useful for clinical evaluation in patients with Pompe disease receiving enzyme replacement therapy.