Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37009903›Full record

ArticleJournal of orthopaedic surgery and research2023

A new type of elastic fixation, using an encircling and binding technique, for tibiofibular syndesmosis stabilization: comparison to traditional cortical screw fixation.

Nan Zhu, Qigang Zhong, Junfeng Zhan, Shuo Zhang, Wei Liu, Yunfeng Yao, Juehua Jing

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.5field-weighted citation impact, top 21% 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

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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

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

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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

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Nan ZhuDepartment of Orthopedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Qigang ZhongDepartment of Orthopedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Junfeng ZhanDepartment of Orthopedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Shuo ZhangDepartment of Orthopedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Wei LiuDepartment of Orthopedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Yunfeng YaoDepartment of Orthopedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Juehua JingDepartment of Orthopedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China. jjhhu@sina.com.
Anhui Medical University · CNSecond Hospital of Anhui Medical University · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe distal tibiofibular syndesmosis (DTS) is a complex fibrous joint that contributes to the stability and weight-bearing function of the ankle. As such, repair of DTS injury is required, providing fixation strength while maintaining ankle range of motion. The aim of this study was to compare a new elastic fixation technique, using an encircling and binding technique, for DTS stabilization, compared to the traditional cortical bone screw fixation.

methodsThis was a retrospective analysis of 67 patients treated for a DTS injury at our hospital, between June 2019 and June 2021. Of them, 33 were treated with encircling and binding (EB group) and 34 using a cortical screw (CS group). The following outcomes were compared between groups: time to inferior tibiofibular fixation; length of hospital stay; time to partial weight bearing; time to complete weight bearing; complications; imaging data; and functional scores.

resultsSuccessful stabilization was achieved in all cases, with a mean follow-up period of 15.78 ± 2.97 months. Time to fixation and time to partial and complete weight bearing were shorter for the EB than that for the CS group. The length of hospital was not different between groups. With regard to complications, a superficial infection developed in one patient in each group, with wound healing achieved after active treatment. Screw fracture occurred in two patients in the CS group. At 3 months post-surgery, the American Foot Surgery Association Ankle-Hindfoot score (AOFAS) was higher and the pain score lower for the EB than that for the CS group, but with no between-group difference at the final follow-up. On imaging, the tibiofibular clear space and tibiofibular overlap were not different between groups.

conclusionsDTS fixation using encircling and binding yielded better clinical and functional outcomes than did cortical screw fixation at 3 months post-surgery, with no difference at the final follow-up. This novel fixation technique provides firm fixation, combined with earlier return to postoperative exercise and recovery of ankle function.

Indexed as

Ankle FracturesAnkle JointBone ScrewsFracture Fixation, InternalHumansRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeAnkle jointElastic fixationPhysiological micromotionSyndesmosis

Identifiers

PMID37009903
PMCPMC10069037
OpenAlexW4362523855

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.