How we write, source and fix our guides
These apply to every Informed Surgery publication, from the library on this site to our three full-length sites.
Sourcing
Every new guide cites at least 15 published sources: mostly systematic reviews, randomized trials and registry studies found through PubMed, plus FDA records and national guidelines. Each citation is numbered in the text and linked by DOI or official URL. Where studies disagree, we say so instead of picking a side.
Numbers
We give risks and outcomes as numbers from the cited research wherever we can, and say what kind of patients the number came from. If a figure only applies to a narrow group, we say that too.
Manufacturer information
Comes from FDA records and companies' own public pages. Manufacturers are listed alphabetically, and no product is ranked above another.
Clinical review
Our guides are written by a non-physician author and haven't had physician review yet. When that changes, each reviewed page will name its reviewer, their credentials and the review date.
Review dates
Every page shows when it was last reviewed. Product links on our full-length sites are rechecked at least every 90 days.
Corrections
If you find an error, tell us through the contact page. We check every report, fix confirmed errors promptly, and note significant corrections on the page.
Commercial relationships
Our full-length patient sites are Amazon Associates and earn commissions on qualifying purchases of everyday recovery supplies, never implants or surgical products. No manufacturer pays to be listed, and commissions don't shape content.
Practice packages and training
Paid work for practices and companies is kept separate from our public guides. A practice can add its own instructions to its branded version, but can't change the evidence in our guides.
Privacy
We only collect what you put into a form, and use it to reply or send the updates you asked for. We'll list the form, email and analytics services we use here as they're added.
Last updated November 2026.