ArticleOncotarget2017
The best surgical strategy for anal fistula based on a network meta-analysis.
Article in Oncotarget, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 26 citations in OpenAlex.
- Systematic review and network meta-analysis of cryptoglandular complex anal fistula treatment: evaluation of surgical strategies.Updates in surgery · 2025Pooled it
- A Pilot Study of Porcine Acellular Bladder Matrix Filling in the Treatment of Anal Fistulas: A Single-Center Cohort Study.ANZ journal of surgery · 2025Article
- Article
- Efficacy of different surgical treatments for management of anal fistula: a network meta-analysis.Techniques in coloproctology · 2023Review
- Article
- Time-scheduled dotted and solid thread-ligating therapy combined with vacuum sealing drainage for treating high complex anal fistula.American journal of translational research · 2021Article
- Surgical treatment for cryptoglandular and Crohn's perianal fistulas: Protocol of an umbrella review.PloS one · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo determine a superior surgical treatment for anal fistula through a network meta-analysis and to provide the best direction for development in this field.
methodsWe conducted a systematic literature search of the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases and extracted data from randomized controlled trials, which compared healing time, incontinence and recurrence associated with surgical strategies for anal fistula. A network meta-analysis was conducted using ADDIS software by evaluating the 3 parameters. Cumulative probability values were utilized to rank the strategies under examination. Inconsistencies were also tested using node-splitting models.
resultsTwenty articles with 1663 patients were included. Fistulotomy plus marsupialisation had the shortest healing time (
conclusionsFistulotomy plus marsupialisation exhibited preliminary superior surgical utility for anal fistula. Additionally, combination of surgical treatment with biomaterials may provide better clinical efficacy. These techniques may warrant consideration for future development in this field.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.