Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40241089›Full record

SynthesisBMC musculoskeletal disorders2025

The optimal adjunctive therapies for microfracture treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Taichao Ren, Xiaoyan Wang, Jian Ma, Dong Hu, Liang Liu, Jun Lu, Bingbing Li

Abstract readSystematic ReviewNetwork Meta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis 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 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

7 authors.

Taichao RenDepartment of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Honghui Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi Province, China.
Xiaoyan WangHospital of Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi Province, China.
Jian MaDepartment of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Honghui Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi Province, China.
Dong HuDepartment of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Honghui Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi Province, China.
Liang LiuDepartment of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Honghui Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi Province, China.
Jun LuDepartment of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Honghui Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi Province, China.
Bingbing LiDepartment of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Honghui Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi Province, China. lzdxlbb0505@163.com.

Funding

Xi'an City Innovation Ability Strong Base Plan 22YXYJ0094
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThis study systematically compares the efficacy of different adjunctive therapies in enhancing microfracture (MF) treatment for osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) through a network meta-analysis, aiming to identify the optimal adjunctive therapy for microfracture.

methodsA systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus databases was conducted for relevant literature until October 1, 2024. Two researchers independently screened, extracted data, and assessed quality. The review process was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

resultsA total of six randomized controlled trials were included, comprising 295 OLT patients and involving four adjunctive therapies: MF combined with platelet-rich plasma (MF_PRP), hyaluronic acid (MF_HA), collagen scaffold (MF_CS), and pulsed electromagnetic fields (MF_PEMF). The results of the network meta-analysis indicated that while HA is the most commonly used adjunctive therapy, PRP-assisted MF demonstrated the best improvement in AOFAS and VAS scores for OLT. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) predictions also revealed that PRP has the greatest potential among the four adjunctive therapies, followed by HA. Conversely, MF_PEMF showed the least effectiveness in improving AOFAS and VAS scores. Additionally, only one study reported complications associated with MF_PEMF and MF, with no statistically significant differences between the two.

conclusionAmong the MF adjunctive therapies validated by RCTs, HA is the most widely used; however, PRP-assisted MF provides the best outcomes for OLT patients, suggesting that its application should be emphasized in clinical practice. PROSPERO: Registration No: CRD42024546984. CLINICAL TRIAL DETAILS: Not applicable.

Indexed as

Arthroplasty, SubchondralCartilage, ArticularMagnetic Field TherapyTalusCollagenCombined Modality TherapyHumansHyaluronic AcidPlatelet-Rich PlasmaRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeCollagenHyaluronic AcidAdjunctive therapyMicrofractureNetwork meta-analysisOsteochondral lesions of the talusRandomized controlled trial

Identifiers

PMID40241089
PMCPMC12001600

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.