Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32860565›Full record

SynthesisArchives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery2021

Management of critical-sized bone defects in the treatment of fracture-related infection: a systematic review and pooled analysis.

H Bezstarosti, W J Metsemakers, E M M van Lieshout, L W Voskamp, K Kortram, M A McNally, L C Marais, M H J Verhofstad

Open access · hybridAbstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 74 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
74citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 29% of its field
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

74 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 9 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Trial
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  6. Article
  7. [Zeta-focal bone lengthening for bone defects after fracture-related infection: a two-case based research].Zhongguo xiu fu chong jian wai ke za zhi = Zhongguo xiufu chongjian waike zazhi = Chinese journal of reparative and reconstructive surgery · 2026
    Article
  8. Article
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  11. Review
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  13. Long-term follow-up of patients with large segmental bone defects treated with 3D-printed polycaprolactone/tricalcium phosphate scaffolds.European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2025
    Article
  14. [Recent advances regarding diagnosis and treatment of fracture-related infection].Zhongguo xiu fu chong jian wai ke za zhi = Zhongguo xiufu chongjian waike zazhi = Chinese journal of reparative and reconstructive surgery · 2025
    Review
  15. Basic science and current management for fracture-related infections.OTA international : the open access journal of orthopaedic trauma · 2025
    Article
  16. Article
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  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Article

14 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 4 institutions in 4 countries.

H BezstarostiTrauma Research Unit, Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. h.bezstarosti@erasmusmc.nl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0730-2522
W J MetsemakersDepartment of Trauma Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Louvain, Belgium.
E M M van LieshoutTrauma Research Unit, Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
L W VoskampTrauma Research Unit, Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
K KortramTrauma Research Unit, Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
M A McNallyNuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK.
L C MaraisDepartment of Orthopaedics, School of Clinical Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
M H J VerhofstadTrauma Research Unit, Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Erasmus MC · NLKU Leuven · BENuffield Orthopaedic Centre · GBUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal · ZA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis systematic review determined the reported treatment strategies, their individual success rates, and other outcome parameters in the management of critical-sized bone defects in fracture-related infection (FRI) patients between 1990 and 2018.

methodsA systematic literature search on treatment and outcome of critical-sized bone defects in FRI was performed. Treatment strategies identified were, autologous cancellous grafts, autologous cancellous grafts combined with local antibiotics, the induced membrane technique, vascularized grafts, Ilizarov bone transport, and bone transport combined with local antibiotics. Outcomes were bone healing and infection eradication after primary surgical protocol and recurrence of FRI and amputations at the end of study period.

resultsFifty studies were included, describing 1530 patients, the tibia was affected in 82%. Mean age was 40 years (range 6-80), with predominantly male subjects (79%). Mean duration of infection was 17 months (range 1-624) and mean follow-up 51 months (range 6-126). After initial protocolized treatment, FRI was cured in 83% (95% CI 79-87) of all cases, increasing to 94% (95% CI 92-96) at the end of each individual study. Recurrence of infection was seen in 8% (95% CI 6-11) and amputation in 3% (95% CI 2-3). Final outcomes overlapped across treatment strategies.

conclusionResults should be interpreted with caution due to the retrospective and observational design of most studies, the lack of clear classification systems, incomplete data reports, potential underreporting of adverse outcomes, and heterogeneity in patient series. A consensus on classification, treatment protocols, and outcome is needed to improve reliability of future studies.

Indexed as

Bone TransplantationOrthopedic ProceduresPostoperative ComplicationsAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overChildFemaleFractures, BoneHumansMaleMiddle AgedWound InfectionYoung AdultBone transportFracture-related infectionInduced membrane techniqueTreatmentVascularized bone graft

Identifiers

PMID32860565
PMCPMC8215045
OpenAlexW2939638736

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

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.