Good explanation of types of research studies

[Pooka1]

http://www.uihealthcare.com/topics/m...t/studies.html

They claim randomized trials are the best approach when there is no certain treatment. Thus this applies to sub-surgical scoliosis curves.

They equate controlled studies with retrospective studies. Apparently they are calling prospective control studies "randomized trials" (i.e., the "best" approach in their opinion). So I agree that prospective controlled studies, irrespective of what you call them, are the best approach forward. It's how science operates or should operate as far as I know.

That said, I don't see why a retrospective controlled study is worse than a prospective controlled study if you have appropriate study criteria available.

[Pooka1]

Controls as the gold standard

And just by way to further drive home the point of needing controlled studies, this article virtually HARPS on the lack of controlled studies in evaluating various studies in the literature. They don't defend the need for controlled studies but rather ASSUME it.

http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/pubs/gu.../text/CH47.txt

Science is science.