Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39794780›Full record

ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2025

Comparison of bioabsorbable screw versus metallic screw fixation for tibial tubercle fractures in adolescents: a retrospective cohort study.

Tian Chen, Yuwei Wen, Danjiang Zhu, Wei Feng, Baojian Song, Qiang Wang

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
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Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
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4citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Tian ChenDepartment of Orthopedics, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045, China.
Yuwei WenDepartment of Orthopedics, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045, China.
Danjiang ZhuDepartment of Orthopedics, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045, China.
Wei FengDepartment of Orthopedics, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045, China.
Baojian SongDepartment of Orthopedics, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045, China.
Qiang WangDepartment of Orthopedics, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045, China. wangqiangmd@aliyun.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDisplaced tibial tubercle (TT) fractures in adolescents are typically treated with open reduction and internal fixation. While metallic screw (MS) fixation provides strong stability, it often results in a high incidence of postoperative screw head protrusion or irritation, leading to additional removal surgery. Bioabsorbable screw (BS) fixation presents an alternative that may avoid these issues, though its stability has not yet been extensively documented in the literature. This study aims to compare the efficacy of BS versus MS in the fixation of TT fractures.

methodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on adolescent patients with TT fractures who underwent surgical treatment from September 2015 to September 2023. Patients were divided into two groups based on the fixation method: The BS group and the MS group. Data collected included patient demographics, fracture details, treatment strategies, radiological and clinical rehabilitation outcomes, and postoperative complications. Knee joint function was evaluated using the Lysholm and Tegner scores. Statistical analysis was performed to identify differences between the variables of the two groups.

resultsA total of 30 patients with 32 fractures were included, with 15 fractures in the BS group and 17 in the MS group. The average follow-up period was 42.1 (range: 12.0-109.5) months. The demographic characteristics, fracture details, and treatment strategies were comparable between the two groups. No significant differences were observed between the groups in fracture healing time, time to return to pre-injury activities, or knee joint function as assessed by the Lysholm and Tegner scores at the final follow-up. However, compared with the MS group, the BS group showed a shorter time to regain full range of motion (ROM) in the knee joint and experienced lower rates of postoperative hardware irritation and joint stiffness.

conclusionsBoth BS and MS fixations are safe and effective for treating adolescent TT fractures. BS fixation has the advantages of avoiding hardware irritation, facilitating earlier recovery of knee joint ROM, reducing the incidence of joint stiffness, and eliminating the need for additional removal surgery. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Indexed as

Absorbable ImplantsBone ScrewsFracture Fixation, InternalTibial FracturesAdolescentChildFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMalePostoperative ComplicationsRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeAdolescentBioabsorbable screwMetallic screwTibial tubercle fracture

Identifiers

PMID39794780
PMCPMC11720598

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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.