Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37993727›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2023

Reappraisal of clinical trauma trials: the critical impact of anthropometric parameters on fracture gap micro-mechanics-observations from a simulation-based study.

Michael Roland, Stefan Diebels, Marcel Orth, Tim Pohlemann, Bertil Bouillon, Thorsten Tjardes

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Observational
  2. 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

6 authors.

Michael RolandChair of Applied Mechanics, Saarland University, Campus A4 2, 1. OG, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany. michael.roland@uni-saarland.de.
Stefan DiebelsChair of Applied Mechanics, Saarland University, Campus A4 2, 1. OG, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany.
Marcel OrthDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Saarland University, Kirrberger Strasse 100, 66421, Homburg, Germany.
Tim PohlemannDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Saarland University, Kirrberger Strasse 100, 66421, Homburg, Germany.
Bertil BouillonChair for Orthopedic Surgery, Trauma Surgery and Sportstraumatology, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Trauma Surgery and Sportstraumatology, Cologne Merheim Medical Center, University Witten/Herdecke, Ostmerheimerstrasse 200, 51109, Cologne, Germany.
Thorsten TjardesChair for Orthopedic Surgery, Trauma Surgery and Sportstraumatology, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Trauma Surgery and Sportstraumatology, Cologne Merheim Medical Center, University Witten/Herdecke, Ostmerheimerstrasse 200, 51109, Cologne, Germany.

Funding

AO Foundation GO-FIT-FAST
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The evidence base of surgical fracture care is extremely sparse with only few sound RCTs available. It is hypothesized that anthropometric factors relevantly influence mechanical conditions in the fracture gap, thereby interfering with the mechanoinduction of fracture healing. Development of a finite element model of a tibia fracture, which is the basis of an in silico population (n = 300) by systematic variation of anthropometric parameters. Simulations of the stance phase and correlation between anthropometric parameters and the mechanical stimulus in the fracture gap. Analysis of the influence of anthropometric parameters on statistical dispersion between in silico trial cohorts with respect to the probability to generate two, with respect to anthropometric parameters statistically different trial cohorts, given the same power assumptions. The mechanical impact in the fracture gap correlates with anthropometric parameters; confirming the hypothesis that anthropometric factors are a relevant entity. On a cohort level simulation of a fracture trial showed that given an adequate power the principle of randomization successfully levels out the impact of anthropometric factors. From a clinical perspective these group sizes are difficult to achieve, especially when considering that the trials takes advantage of a "laboratory approach ", i.e. the fracture type has not been varied, such that in real world trials the cohort size have to be even larger to level out the different configurations of fractures gaps. Anthropometric parameters have a significant impact on the fracture gap mechanics. The cohort sizes necessary to level out this effect are difficult or unrealistic to achieve in RCTs, which is the reason for sparse evidence in orthotrauma. New approaches to clinical trials taking advantage of modelling and simulation techniques need to be developed and explored.

Indexed as

Fracture HealingTibial FracturesComputer SimulationHumans

Identifiers

PMID37993727
PMCPMC10665421

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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.