Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40702500›Full record

SynthesisJournal of orthopaedic surgery and research2025

Effectiveness of intramedullary nails in Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis for Charcot neuroarthropathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hao Zhang, Ning Jiang, Jun-Fei Zhao, Xian-Tie Zeng

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. [Minimally invasive surgery for Charcot arthropathy].Orthopadie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2026
    Review
  2. 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.

Hao ZhangFoot and Ankle Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Ning JiangFoot and Ankle Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Jun-Fei ZhaoFoot and Ankle Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Xian-Tie ZengFoot and Ankle Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, China. zengxiantie@163.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of intramedullary nails (IMNs) in tibial-talocalcaneal arthrodesis (TTCA) for treating Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN).

methodsA comprehensive search for relevant literature was conducted in the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus and SinoMed databases, covering studies from 2014 to October 30, 2024. The inclusion criteria were based on the PICOS framework: the study population consisted of CN patients, the intervention was TTCA with IMNs, and the outcomes assessed included bone union rate, complication rate, and limb salvage rate. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata 17.0 software. Literature quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for cohort studies and case series. This systematic review was prospectively registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; registration number: CRD42025644983).

resultsA total of seven studies involving 147 patients with a mean follow-up of one year were included. The meta-analysis revealed a combined standardized mean difference (SMD) of -4.99 (95% CI: -6.70 to -3.28) for the AOFAS score, with high heterogeneity (I2 = 90.7%). Sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the stability of the results. The combined estimate for the bone nonunion rate was 3.3% (95% CI: 0.1% to 8.9%), with moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 33.2%). The combined estimate for the infection rate was 12.9% (95% CI: 2.0% to 29.2%). A comparison of preoperative and postoperative scores showed significant improvements in patients' function and quality of life, highlighting the critical role of the TTCA procedure in improving prognosis.

conclusionIMNs in TTCA demonstrate high efficacy for CN, with significant functional improvement, low nonunion rates, and favorable limb salvage outcomes. However, infection risks and heterogeneity across studies highlight the need for standardized protocols and larger controlled trials to optimize patient selection and postoperative management.

Indexed as

ArthrodesisArthropathy, NeurogenicBone NailsCalcaneusFracture Fixation, IntramedullaryTalusTibiaHumansTreatment OutcomeCharcot NeuroarthropathyIntramedullary NailsMeta-analysisTibiotalocalcaneal ArthrodesisTTCA

Identifiers

PMID40702500
PMCPMC12288348

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.