Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33586124›Full record

SynthesisInfection2021

Evidence-based uncertainty: do implant-related properties of titanium reduce the susceptibility to perioperative infections in clinical fracture management? A systematic review.

Michael C Tanner, Christian Fischer, Gerhard Schmidmaier, Patrick Haubruck

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Infection, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
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

4 authors.

Michael C TannerHTRG-Heidelberg Trauma Research Group, Center for Orthopedics, Trauma Surgery and Spinal Cord Injury, Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69118, Heidelberg, Germany. michael.tanner@med.uni-heidelberg.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0243-8113
Christian FischerHTRG-Heidelberg Trauma Research Group, Center for Orthopedics, Trauma Surgery and Spinal Cord Injury, Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69118, Heidelberg, Germany.
Gerhard SchmidmaierHTRG-Heidelberg Trauma Research Group, Center for Orthopedics, Trauma Surgery and Spinal Cord Injury, Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69118, Heidelberg, Germany.
Patrick HaubruckHTRG-Heidelberg Trauma Research Group, Center for Orthopedics, Trauma Surgery and Spinal Cord Injury, Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69118, Heidelberg, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundImplant-associated infections (IAI) remain a challenging complication in osteosynthesis. There is no consensus or clear evidence whether titanium offers a relevant clinical benefit over stainless steel. PURPOSE: In this systematic review, we sought to determine whether the implant properties of titanium reduce the susceptibility to IAI compared to stainless steel in fracture management.

methodsA systematic literature search in German and English was performed using specific search terms and limits. Studies published between 1995 and 1st June 2020 in the Cochrane library, MEDLINE and Web of Science databases were included. Only clinical studies comparing titanium and stainless steel implants regarding the susceptibility to infections were selected for detailed review.

resultsFive studies out of 384 papers were identified and reviewed. From the studies meeting inclusion criteria one study was a systematic review, two studies were randomized controlled studies (RCT) and two studies were of retrospective comparative nature of level IV evidence.

conclusionOur results show that currently, no proven advantage for titanium implants in respect to IAI can be seen in contemporary literature. Implants preserving periosteal blood-flow and minimising soft-tissue trauma show statistically significant benefits in reducing the incidence of IAI. Clinical studies providing reliable evidence regarding the influence of titanium implants on IAI and investigating the susceptibility of titanium to infection are necessary.

Indexed as

Fractures, BoneTitaniumFracture Fixation, InternalHumansStainless SteelUncertaintyStainless SteelTitaniumImplant related infectionInfectionPrevention of infectionStainless steel implantsTitanium implantsTrauma surgery

Identifiers

PMID33586124
PMCPMC8476472

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.