Classification systems are used throughout Trauma and Orthopaedic (T&O) surgery, designed to be used for communication, planning treatment options, predicting outcomes and research purposes. As a result the majority of T&O knowledge is based upon such systems with most of the published literature using classifications. Therefore we wanted to investigate the basis for the classification culture in our specialty by reviewing Orthopaedic classifications and the literature to assess whether the classifications had been independently validated. 185 published classification systems within T&O were selected. The original publication for each classification system was reviewed to assess whether any validation process had been performed. Each paper was reviewed to see if any intra-observer or inter-observer error was reported. A PubMed search was then conducted for each classification system to assess whether any independent validation had been performed. Any measurement of validation and error was recorded.Introduction
Methods
