We produce rigorous scientific evidence to improve care for people with musculoskeletal and neurosurgical conditions.
Our mission: evidence over tradition
Many medical practices, no matter how common they are, are poorly grounded in scientific evidence. This uncomfortable truth led to the formation of FICEBO—an alliance of like-minded healthcare professionals committed to the rational practice of medicine.
Since 2002, we have conducted research that challenges deeply held medical beliefs. While our placebo surgery–controlled trials were originally at the core of our activities, we have since broadened our scope to other medical disciplines and adopted a wider range of rigorous methods.
Explore our ongoing projects—and stay tuned for more to come.
Our history
2002
The FIDELITY and FIMPACT trials were conceived, marking the beginning of our placebo-surgery research.
2013
Groundbreaking results published showing APM was no more effective than placebo surgery.
2014
FICEBO officially established to bring together like-minded researchers committed to evidence-based practice.
2015-2024
15 new projects started. Results started influencing international medical guidelines.
Present
Nearly 40 professionals, multiple ongoing trials, and growing international collaboration network.
Our approach
FICEBO’s premise? Simple: if there is no strong evidence that a medical intervention works, it is a suitable candidate for rigorous study.
Once we set out on this path, it quickly became clear that even for very common surgical procedures, the evidence base was astonishingly weak. In many cases, there was not even proof that surgery was more effective than non-surgical care.
How do we design our studies? Simple: we choose the method best suited to answer the question—without sparing ourselves the effort required to do it properly. Sometimes that means observational studies or standard randomized trials; other times, it means going further.
Placebo surgery–controlled trials?
Yes, we know—not simple. But they are the most rigorous and definitive approach to assessing surgical interventions, providing the clearest possible evidence of whether a procedure genuinely works.
This is our path, in a nutshell. And by pursuing it, we have established ourselves as one of the world’s pioneering centers for high-quality surgical trials.
Our impact
The reach of our work goes far beyond academic journals. When we determine whether widely practiced procedures truly offer meaningful benefit, we are not just challenging medical orthodoxy—we are creating the foundations for safer, more sustainable care.
Our research has influenced national and international treatment guidelines, reshaped surgical education, and driven measurable changes in clinical practice. In some cases, it has helped prevent thousands of unnecessary operations along with their associated burden both to patients and to society.
This is our version of high-impact, evidence-based medicine in action: advancing scientific rigor, improving patient outcomes, and helping to make healthcare more transparent, patient-centered, and accountable.
Leadership
