Early Termination of Randomized Clinical Trials in Orthopaedics.

Randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) in orthopaedics, similar to all medical fields, provide the highest level of clinical data and constitute the cornerstone for evidence-based therapeutic advances. Orthopaedic clinical trials face the same challenges as in other medical fields, such as insufficient recruitment, unforeseen adverse events, and futility. In this article, we highlight the reasons for early termination of clinical trials and provide examples of each type.