Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38740648›Full record

SynthesisArchives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery2024

Better outcomes using suture button compared to screw fixation in talofibular syndesmotic injuries of the ankle: a level I evidence-based meta-analysis.

Filippo Migliorini, Nicola Maffulli, Federico Cocconi, Luise Schäfer, Andreas Bell, Dragana Katusic, Raju Vaishya

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisComparative StudyReview
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In one paragraph

Synthesis in Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery, 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. [Injuries of the tibiofibular syndesmosis].Unfallchirurgie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2026
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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

7 authors.

Filippo MiglioriniDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Academic Hospital of Bolzano (SABES-ASDAA), 39100, Bolzano, Italy. migliorini.md@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7220-1221
Nicola MaffulliDepartment of Medicine and Psychology, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
Federico CocconiDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Academic Hospital of Bolzano (SABES-ASDAA), 39100, Bolzano, Italy.
Luise SchäferDepartment of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Eifelklinik St. Brigida, Simmerath, Germany.
Andreas BellDepartment of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Eifelklinik St. Brigida, Simmerath, Germany.
Dragana KatusicDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Academic Hospital of Bolzano (SABES-ASDAA), 39100, Bolzano, Italy.
Raju VaishyaDepartment of Orthopaedics, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, India.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe present meta-analysis evaluated current level I clinical trials which compared the use of a suture button (SB) versus syndesmotic screw (SS) fixation techniques for syndesmosis injuries of the ankle. The outcomes of interest were to compare patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and complications. It was hypothesised that SB might achieve better PROMs along with a lower rate of complications.

methodsThis study was conducted according to the 2020 PRISMA statement. In August 2023, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Embase were accessed. All the randomised controlled trials (RCTs) which compared SB versus SS fixation for syndesmosis injuries of the ankle were accessed. Data concerning the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS), and Olerud-Molander score (OMS) were collected at baseline and at last follow-up. Data on implant failure, implant removal, and joint malreduction were also retrieved.

resultsData from seven RCTs (490 patients) were collected. 33% (161 of 490) were women. The mean length of the follow-up was 30.8 ± 27.4 months. The mean age of the patients was 41.1 ± 4.1 years. Between the two groups (SB and SS), comparability was found in the mean age, and men:women ratio. The SS group evidenced lower OMS (P = 0.0006) and lower AOFAS (P = 0.03). The SS group evidenced a greater rate of implant failure (P = 0.0003), implant removal (P = 0.0005), and malreduction (P = 0.04).

conclusionSuture button fixation might perform better than the syndesmotic screw fixation in syndesmotic injuries of the ankle.

Indexed as

Ankle InjuriesBone ScrewsFracture Fixation, InternalHumansPatient Reported Outcome MeasuresRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicSuture TechniquesTreatment OutcomeAnkleAOFASFibulaOMSPPROMsScrewsSuture buttonSyndesmosis

Identifiers

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.