Surgical Intervention Trials Unit
Going straight to surgery found to be better than undergoing rehabilitation first for longstanding anterior cruciate ligament injury
New research, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), shows initial surgery to be more successful and cost effective than undergoing treatment with rehabilitation first to treat longstanding anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Read moreWELCOME TO THE SURGICAL INTERVENTION TRIALS UNIT (SITU NDORMS)
SITU is one of seven Royal College of Surgeons of England specialist trials centres dedicated to evaluating surgical intervention, mainly by generating randomised control trial evidence. We are a multidisciplinary team who provide, guidance, training and support for the development of new surgical trials and future trialists. We draw upon the considerable methodological and practical trials expertise in Oxford including statistical, ethical, health economic, systematic review, clinical network resources and the IDEAL collaboration.
Currently, less than 5% of government funding for medical research goes into surgery
ABOUT
We are a centre of excellence in surgical trials, answering important global surgical questions.
RESEARCH
Read about our research and collaborations in the medical and healthcare research community.
TEAM
Meet our multidisciplinary team of worldwide experts in surgical trials.
Latest news
Three NIHR HTA grants awarded to Professor Tim Theologis
4 October 2022
Congratulations to Professor Tim Theologis, who has been awarded three NIHR HTA grants to extend research in orthopaedic disorders in children.
Going straight to surgery found to be better than undergoing rehabilitation first for longstanding anterior cruciate ligament injury
23 August 2022
New research, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), shows initial surgery to be more successful and cost effective than undergoing treatment with rehabilitation first to treat longstanding anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Celebrating Clinical Trials Day at NDORMS
20 May 2022
To mark Clinical Trials Day we take a look at some of the recent developments at NDORMS and celebrate the teams that make this important area of our research programme possible.
Liposomal bupivacaine found to be no more effective than current treatments for post-operative knee pain
6 April 2022
A new study published in JAMA, has found that a drug recently licensed in the UK has no effect on post-operative knee replacement recovery or pain, compared to the current treatment when administered at site of surgery.
Selected publications
Rehabilitation versus surgical reconstruction for non-acute anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL SNNAP): a pragmatic randomised controlled trial.
Beard DJ. et al, (2022), Lancet, 400, 605 - 615
Placebo comparator group selection and use in surgical trials: the ASPIRE project including expert workshop.
Beard DJ. et al, (2021), Health technol assess, 25, 1 - 52
Considerations and Methods for Placebo Controls in Surgical Trials: State of the Art Review and ASPIRE Guidance
BEARD DJ. et al, (2019), The lancet
