Process / pipelineClinical / epidemiology

Retrospective Case Series — Chart-Based Descriptive Study

A retrospective case series is an observational study that systematically describes the clinical features, treatments, and outcomes of a defined group of patients by examining pre-existing medical records or administrative data. It looks backward in time — data have already been recorded before the study begins. With no control group, no randomization, and no prospective follow-up, it sits near the base of the evidence hierarchy but remains one of the most practical and frequently published study designs in clinical medicine.

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Sources

  1. Kooistra, B., Dijkman, B., Einhorn, T. A., & Bhandari, M. (2009). How to design a good case series. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 91(Suppl 3), 21–26. DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.H.01573
  2. Mayer, D. (2010). Essential Evidence-Based Medicine (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. Chapter on study designs. ISBN: 9780521712415

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Referenced by

ScholarGateRetrospective Case Series (Retrospective Case Series Study). Retrieved 2026-06-04 from https://scholargate.app/en/epidemiology/retrospective-case-series