Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34455448›Full record

SynthesisKnee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA2021

Static versus dynamic fixation of distal tibiofibular syndesmosis: a systematic review of overlapping meta-analyses.

Domenico Marasco, Jacopo Russo, Antonio Izzo, Salvatore Vallefuoco, Francesco Coppola, Shelain Patel, Francesco Smeraglia, Giovanni Balato, Massimo Mariconda, Alessio Bernasconi

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.8field-weighted citation impact, top 16% 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

11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. All-suture fixation of syndesmotic injuries: a case series.European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie · 2024
    Article
  9. Article
  10. Safe drilling zones for anteriorly, central, and posteriorly angulated syndesmotic stabilization devices.Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA · 2023
    Article
  11. Article
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

10 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Domenico MarascoDepartment of Public Health, Trauma and Orthopaedics, University Federico II of Naples, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
Jacopo RussoDepartment of Public Health, Trauma and Orthopaedics, University Federico II of Naples, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
Antonio IzzoDepartment of Public Health, Trauma and Orthopaedics, University Federico II of Naples, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
Salvatore VallefuocoDepartment of Public Health, Trauma and Orthopaedics, University Federico II of Naples, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
Francesco CoppolaDepartment of Public Health, Trauma and Orthopaedics, University Federico II of Naples, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
Shelain PatelFoot and Ankle Unit, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK.
Francesco SmeragliaDepartment of Public Health, Trauma and Orthopaedics, University Federico II of Naples, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
Giovanni BalatoDepartment of Public Health, Trauma and Orthopaedics, University Federico II of Naples, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
Massimo MaricondaDepartment of Public Health, Trauma and Orthopaedics, University Federico II of Naples, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
Alessio BernasconiDepartment of Public Health, Trauma and Orthopaedics, University Federico II of Naples, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy. alebernas@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9427-3178
Federico II University Hospital · ITRoyal National Orthopaedic Hospital · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeMultiple Level I meta-analyses were conducted comparing traditional static vs. more recently introduced dynamic strategies of fixation for injuries of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis (TFS). The aim of this review was to assess their robustness and methodological quality, providing support in the choice of a treatment strategy in case of TFS injury using the highest level of evidence.

methodsIn this systematic review, conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, meta-analyses/systematic reviews comparing static and dynamic fixation methods after acute TFS injury were identified. The robustness of studies was evaluated using the fragility index (FI) for meta-analysis and the fragility quotient (FQ). The risk of bias was evaluated using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) instrument. Finally, the Jadad was applied to select the study which provided the highest quality of evidence to develop recommendations for the fixation strategy of these lesions.

resultsOut of 1.302 records, four Level I meta-analyses were included in this study. Analyzing the statistically significant dichotomous outcomes, the median FI was 3.5 (IQR, 2 to 5.5; range, 1 to 9), while the median FQ was 1.9% (IQR, 1 to 3.5; range 0.35 to 4.4). In total, 37% had an FI of 2 or less and 75% of outcomes had a FI of 4 or less. According to the AMSTAR score and Jadad algorithm, the largest meta-analysis was selected as the highest evidence provided so far.

conclusionThe meta-analyses with statistically significant dichotomous outcomes comparing dynamic and static fixation for treating injuries of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis are fragile, with a change in less than four patients or less than 2% of the study population sufficient to reverse a significant outcome to nonsignificant. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I.

Indexed as

Ankle InjuriesAnkle JointBone ScrewsFracture Fixation, InternalHumansMeta-Analysis as TopicSuture TechniquesTreatment OutcomeMeta-analysisScrewSuture buttonSyndesmosisSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID34455448
OpenAlexW3196830638

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

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.