Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37779131›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie2024

Cost analysis and clinical outcomes of anatomic pre-contoured locking versus conventional plates for distal fibula ankle fractures.

Raahil Patel, Kevin McCarthy, Joseph Christensen, Bonamico Jacobs, Jordan Karsch, Andrew Sephien, Christopher Matson, Roy W Sanders, Hassan Riaz Mir

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Article in European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.5field-weighted citation impact, top 10% 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

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. One-third tubular plates versus anatomical distal fibula plates in ankle fracture fixation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. 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

9 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Raahil PatelDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of South Florida, 5 Tampa General Circle, HMT 710, Tampa, FL, 33606, USA. patelraahil@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6023-3741
Kevin McCarthyDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of South Florida, 5 Tampa General Circle, HMT 710, Tampa, FL, 33606, USA.
Joseph ChristensenDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of South Florida, 5 Tampa General Circle, HMT 710, Tampa, FL, 33606, USA.
Bonamico JacobsDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of South Florida, 5 Tampa General Circle, HMT 710, Tampa, FL, 33606, USA.
Jordan KarschDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of South Florida, 5 Tampa General Circle, HMT 710, Tampa, FL, 33606, USA.
Andrew SephienDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of South Florida, 5 Tampa General Circle, HMT 710, Tampa, FL, 33606, USA.
Christopher MatsonDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of South Florida, 5 Tampa General Circle, HMT 710, Tampa, FL, 33606, USA.
Roy W SandersDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of South Florida, 5 Tampa General Circle, HMT 710, Tampa, FL, 33606, USA.
Hassan Riaz MirDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of South Florida, 5 Tampa General Circle, HMT 710, Tampa, FL, 33606, USA.
University of South Florida · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo analyze differences in union, complication rates and cost from surgical fixation of distal fibula fractures with fibular plating implants.

methodsIn total, 380 adult patients from 2012 to 2015 treated with 12 fibular plates from 4 different manufacturers utilized by 9 surgeons were retrospectively reviewed. They were stratified into a conventional one-third tubular fibular plate group, pre-contoured anatomic locking plate group, or a heterogeneous group including 3.5-mm reconstruction, one-third tubular locking, composite, and limited compression plates. The outcomes included failure of fixation, deep infection requiring debridement, time to union, anatomic reduction, superficial infection, hardware removal, and post-traumatic arthritis. Plate and screw costs were calculated from hospital billing records.

resultsPre-contoured locking plates were used in older, female patients with a greater number of comorbidities. Open injuries and OTA 44B fractures were more likely to be an indication for pre-contoured plates. There was no difference noted in time to union between the different plating groups. Risk factors for deep infection requiring debridement included a history of tobacco use, open fractures, and pre-contoured locking plates relative to the conventional plating group. The pre-contoured plating group was on average $586 more expensive compared to the conventional group.

conclusionPre-contoured locking plates achieved similar radiographic outcomes compared to conventional plates with an increased risk of complications and higher cost. Surgeons should consider their choice of implant based on the patient's fracture pattern, underlying comorbidities, and risk for infection.

Indexed as

Ankle FracturesAdultAgedBone PlatesCosts and Cost AnalysisFemaleFibulaFracture Fixation, InternalHumansRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeAnkle fracturesCost analysisFibular plating

Identifiers

PMID37779131
OpenAlexW4387231962

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.