Level of evidence of clinical neurosurgery research in Saudi Arabia

Good quality clinical research is fundamental for the practice of evidence-based medicine (EBM). Level of evidence (LOE) is a tool used to assess the quality and design of clinical research. It is generally accepted that publications with a high LOE are likely to be more valid and have greater impact on clinical practice. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the assessment of the LOE in publications from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA),1,2 in major specialty journals,3,4 and from different countries.5 Up to date information on the quality of neurosurgery research in KSA is still lacking. This study aimed at evaluating the LOE in Saudi neurosurgical publications, and comparing this with the international literature, and with KSA publications from other specialties.