Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38762419›Full record

SynthesisChinese journal of traumatology = Zhonghua chuang shang za zhi2025

Effectiveness and safety of augmentative plating technique in managing nonunion following intramedullary nailing of long bones in the lower extremity: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Cong-Xiao Fu, Hao Gao, Jun Ren, Hu Wang, Shuai-Kun Lu, Guo-Liang Wang, Zhen-Feng Zhu, Yun-Yan Liu, Wen Luo, Yong Zhang and 1 more

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Chinese journal of traumatology = Zhonghua chuang shang za zhi, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

11 authors.

Cong-Xiao FuXi'an Medical University, Xi'an, 710021, China.
Hao GaoDepartment of Orthopaedics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China.
Jun RenAir Force Medical University, Xi'an, 700032, China.
Hu WangXi'an Medical University, Xi'an, 710021, China.
Shuai-Kun LuDepartment of Orthopaedics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China.
Guo-Liang WangDepartment of Orthopaedics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China.
Zhen-Feng ZhuDepartment of Orthopaedics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China.
Yun-Yan LiuDepartment of Orthopaedics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China.
Wen LuoDepartment of Ultrasound, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 700032, China.
Yong ZhangDepartment of Orthopaedics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China.
Yun-Fei ZhangDepartment of Orthopaedics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China. Electronic address: tdbone@163.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo methodically assess the effectiveness of augmentative plating (AP) and exchange nailing (EN) in managing nonunion following intramedullary nailing for long bone fractures of the lower extremity.

methodsPubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched to gather clinical studies regarding the use of AP and EN techniques in the treatment of nonunion following intramedullary nailing of lower extremity long bones. The search was conducted up until May 2023. The original studies underwent an independent assessment of their quality, a process conducted utilizing the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Data were retrieved from these studies, and meta-analysis was executed utilizing Review Manager 5.3.

resultsThis meta-analysis included 8 studies involving 661 participants, with 305 in the AP group and 356 in the EN group. The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated that the AP group exhibited a higher rate of union (odds ratio: 8.61, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 4.12 - 17.99, p < 0.001), shorter union time (standardized mean difference (SMD): -1.08, 95% CI: -1.79 - -0.37, p = 0.003), reduced duration of the surgical procedure (SMD: -0.56, 95% CI: -0.93 - -0.19, p = 0.003), less bleeding (SMD: -1.5, 95% CI: -2.81 - -0.18, p = 0.03), and a lower incidence of complications (relative risk: -0.17, 95% CI: -0.27 - -0.06, p = 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, the time for union in the AP group in nonisthmal and isthmal nonunion of lower extremity long bones was shorter compared to the EN group (nonisthmal SMD: -1.94, 95% CI: -3.28 - -0.61, p < 0.001; isthmal SMD: -1.08, 95% CI: -1.64 - -0.52, p = 0.002).

conclusionIn the treatment of nonunion in diaphyseal fractures of the long bones in the lower extremity, the AP approach is superior to EN, both intraoperatively (with reduced duration of the surgical procedure and diminished blood loss) and postoperatively (with an elevated union rate, shorter union time, and lower incidence of complications). Specifically, in the management of nonunion of lower extremity long bones with non-isthmal and isthmal intramedullary nails, AP demonstrated shorter union time in comparison to EN.

Indexed as

Bone NailsBone PlatesFemoral FracturesFracture Fixation, IntramedullaryFractures, UnunitedHumansLower ExtremityAugmentative platingExchange nailingIntramedullary nailLower extremity long bone fracturesNonunion

Identifiers

PMID38762419
PMCPMC12166877

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.