Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38148379›Full record

SynthesisInternational orthopaedics2024

Docking site interventions following bone transport using external fixation: a systematic review of the literature.

E Liodakis, V P Giannoudis, P J Harwood, P V Giannoudis

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International orthopaedics, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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

10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Cumulative operative burden is associated with poorer function after segmental bone transport for lower-extremity long-bone defects.European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. The masquelet technique for severe open fractures: current insights.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2026
    Review
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. 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

4 authors.

E LiodakisDepartment of Trauma Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. manoliodakis@yahoo.gr.ORCID 0000-0001-8870-6216
V P GiannoudisAcademic Department of Trauma & Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK.
P J HarwoodAcademic Department of Trauma & Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK.
P V GiannoudisAcademic Department of Trauma & Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeAlthough bone transport is a well-recognised technique to address segmental bone defects, optimal management of docking sites is not absolutely determined. Some surgeons routinely intervene in all cases, and others prefer to observe and intervene only if spontaneous union does not occur. Primary aim of the study was to compare rates of docking site union between patients who underwent routine docking site intervention and those who did not.

methodsA systematic literature review using the keywords "bone transport", "docking", "tibia", and "femur" was performed in PubMed using PRISMA guidelines. Studies published in English from January 2000 to August 2022 were included and assessed independently by two reviewers. Pooled analysis was undertaken dividing patients into two groups: those managed by routine intervention and those initially observed.

resultsTwenty-three clinical studies met the eligibility criteria for pooled analysis, including 1153 patients, 407 in the routine intervention and 746 in the observed group. The rate of union after initial treatment was 90% in the routine intervention group and 66% in the observed group (p < 0.0001). Overall union rates at the end of treatment were similar at 99% in both groups. Patients in the observed group required an average of 2.2 procedures to achieve union overall compared with 3.8 in the routine intervention group. Time in frame was similar between groups.

conclusionBased on the current literature, routine docking site interventions cannot be recommended, since this may lead to unnecessary interventions in two thirds of patients. Timely selective intervention in those at high risk or after a defined period of observation would appear to be a logical approach.

Indexed as

External FixatorsFracture FixationFemurHumansRetrospective StudiesTibiaTreatment OutcomeBone defectBone transportDocking siteNon-unionOpen fractures

Identifiers

PMID38148379
PMCPMC10799803

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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.