ReviewBJS open2017
Systematic review of surgical interventions for Crohn's anal fistula.
Review in BJS open, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 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
18 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 38 citations in OpenAlex.
- A systematic review of the quality of reporting of interventions in the surgical treatment of Crohn's anal fistula: an assessment using the TIDiER and Blencowe frameworks.Techniques in coloproctology · 2021Pooled it
- Global surgical landscape and outcomes in Crohn's disease in the biologics era: a systematic review protocol.BMJ open · 2026Article
- Study protocol and statistical analysis plan for a randomized controlled trial evaluating the safety and feasibility of the recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor B (rhPDGF-BB)-enhanced collagen plug for complex perianal fistula healing.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2026Article
- Perianal fistulas: a new management approach using mesenchymal stem cells as a human, biological and autologous tool-a single-centre observational study.International journal of colorectal disease · 2025Observational
- Extracellular Vesicles Delivered by a Nanofiber-Hydrogel Composite Enhance Healing In Vivo in a Model of Crohn's Disease Perianal Fistula.Advanced healthcare materials · 2025Article
- Perianal Fistulizing Crohn's Disease: Outcomes of Surgical Repairs and Current State of Stem Cell-Based Therapies.Clinics in colon and rectal surgery · 2025Review
- Perianal Fistula; from Etiology to Treatment - A Review.Middle East journal of digestive diseases · 2024Review
- Surgical Management of Perianal Crohn's Disease: Current Evidence and Future Directions.Acta informatica medica : AIM : journal of the Society for Medical Informatics of Bosnia & Herzegovina : casopis Drustva za medicinsku informatiku BiH · 2024Article
- Repeat operations in patients with anal fistula, a retrospective study across England and Wales.International journal of colorectal disease · 2023Article
- The Multidisciplinary Management of Perianal Fistulas in Crohn's Disease: A Systematic Review.Cureus · 2022Review
- The Optimal Management of Fistulizing Crohn's Disease: Evidence beyond Randomized Clinical Trials.Journal of clinical medicine · 2022Review
- Evaluating the safety and efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes for treatment of refractory perianal fistula in IBD patients: clinical trial phase I.Gastroenterology report · 2022Article
- Minor Sphincter Sparing Surgery for Successful Closure of Perianal Fistulas in Patients with Crohn's Disease.Journal of clinical medicine · 2021Article
- Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in the Treatment of Perianal Fistulas in Crohn's Disease: Rationale, Clinical Results and Perspectives.International journal of molecular sciences · 2021Review
- Healing of rectal advancement flaps for anal fistulas in patients with and without Crohn's disease: a retrospective cohort analysis.BMC surgery · 2021Article
- Current review of the management of fistulising perianal Crohn's disease.Frontline gastroenterology · 2021Article
- Contemporary surgical practice in the management of anal fistula: results from an international survey.Techniques in coloproctology · 2019Article
- Recent advances in the management of perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease: lessons for the clinic.Expert review of gastroenterology & hepatology · 2019Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAnal fistula occurs in approximately one in three patients with Crohn's disease and is typically managed through a multimodal approach. The optimal surgical therapy is not yet clear. The aim of this systematic review was to identify and assess the literature on surgical treatments of Crohn's anal fistula.
methodsA systematic review was conducted that analysed studies relating to surgical treatment of Crohn's anal fistula published on MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane databases between January 1995 and March 2016. Studies reporting specific outcomes of patients treated for Crohn's anal fistula were included. The primary outcome was fistula healing rate. Bias was assessed using the Cochrane ROBINS-I and ROB tool as appropriate.
resultsA total of 1628 citations were reviewed. Sixty-three studies comprising 1584 patients were ultimately selected in the analyses. There was extensive reporting on the use of setons, advancement flaps and fistula plugs. Randomized trials were available only for stem cells and fistula plugs. There was inconsistency in outcome measures across studies, and a high degree of bias was noted.
conclusionData describing surgical intervention for Crohn's anal fistula are heterogeneous with a high degree of bias. There is a clear need for standardization of outcomes and description of study cohorts for better understanding of treatment options.
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
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.