A multi-centre randomized controlled trial comparing electrothermal arthroscopic capsulorrhaphy versus open inferior capsular shift for patients with shoulder instability: protocol implementation and interim performance: lessons learned from conducting a multi-centre RCT [ISRCTN68224911; NCT00251160].

"Competing interests The ETAC probes (Oratec Vulcan Generator electro-thermal system) used in this trial are donated by Oratec Interventions Inc., Menlo Park, CA, USA. NM has received outside funding from Oratec and Smith & Nephew USA to support the annual collaborator meetings for the trial. Absolutely none of this industry support has been used to conduct the trial in any fashion. Peer review funding was obtained initially from The Arthritis Society and subsequently from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research to provide all resources to carry out the multi-centre trial."

"AcknowledgementsThis study was supported by funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and The Arthritis Society. PC was supported by a Summer Studentship through the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.NM and AK proposed the study to members of JOINTS Canada (Joint Orthopaedic Initiative for National Trials of the Shoulder – Canada) whose mandate is: "An organization dedicated to raising the standards of education, assessment and care through multi-centre clinical trials and to improve the quality of life for patients with shoulder disorders." JOINTS Canada is an assembly of orthopaedic shoulder surgeons, epidemiologists, research coordinators, nurses, physiotherapists and kinesiologists who have a common interest in shoulder research and who work collaboratively to conduct national trials in shoulder surgery. JOINTS Canada collectively prioritized this study, approved it and contributed to protocol development. JOINTS Canada Full Members read and approved the final study protocol. JOINTS Canada Full Members include: John Antoniou, Robert Balyk, Trevor Birmingham, Richard Boorman, Erin Boynton, Dianne Bryant, Darren Drosdowech, Jamie Dubberly, Ken Faber, Warren Froese, Steven Gallay, Robert Hawkins, Laurie Hiemstra, Robert Hollinshead, Richard Holtby, Jordan Leith, Robert Litchfield, Ian Lo, Joe Lobo, Joy MacDermid, Peter MacDonald, Scott Mandel, Robert McCormack, Michael McKee, Nicholas Mohtadi, Jaydeep Moro, Helen Razmjou, Eric Renaud, and Daniel Whelan. The JOINTS members who are contributing patients to the trial are: Robert Balyk, Darren Drosdowech, Warren Froese, Laurie Hiemstra, Robert Hollinshead, Robert Litchfield, Peter MacDonald, Scott Mandel, Robert McCormack, and Nicholas Mohtadi."