To review the statistical analysis used for the studies in the Journal of the Korean orthopaedic Association.

We analysed the statistical analysis used for the studies in the Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association (JKOA) published in 1997 and compared that with the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS).

In JKOA, 97 out of 205 papers (47.3%) used statistical analysis. Total number of analytic methods was 140 (1.44 per paper in an average). In JBJS, 109 out of 159 papers (68.6%) used statistical analysis and total number of analytic methods was 202 (1.85 per paper in an average). In JKOA, analysis of means was used 98 times (70.0%), analysis of regression and correlation 8 times (5.7%), analysis of categorical data 30 times (21.4%), analysis of survival data 3 times (2.1%) and other methods just once (0.7%). In JBJS, analysis of means was used 114 times (56.4%), analysis of regression and correlation 10 times (5.0%), analysis of categorical data 55 times (27.2%), analysis of survival data 21 times (10.4%) and other methods 2 times (1.0%).

In both journals, t-test, chisquare test and analysis of variance were commonly used analytic methods. In JKOA, the results of 10 out of 97 papers (10.3%) were difficult to understand because of insufficient explanation of the analytic methods used.