ArticleInternational orthopaedics2025
Clinical outcomes of internal fixation orthopaedic surgery in humanitarian settings: a retrospective cohort study at the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) trauma centre in Aden, Yemen.
Article in International orthopaedics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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.
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.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Trauma Systems in Conflict Zones: A Qualitative Study of Field Operational Requirements in Humanitarian Care.World journal of surgery · 2026Article
- Microbiology, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of low-grade infection in long-bone diaphyseal non-union after open fracture.International orthopaedics · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
13 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThe Aden Trauma Centre in Yemen, supported by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), introduced internal fixation (IF) procedures to address the high burden of fractures as a result of road traffic accidents and conflict-related injuries. This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of patients undergoing IF, evaluate their complication and healing outcomes, and explore factors influencing postoperative results.
methodsA retrospective cohort design was employed, including all patients who underwent internal fixation-using SIGN nails or plates/screws-between January and December 2022. Demographic information, fracture characteristics, surgical techniques, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify key predictors of complications and bone healing.
resultsA total of 177 patients (208 fractures) were included. The overall complication rate was 14.4%. Open fractures and comorbidities were significant predictors of complications, while type of implant (SIGN nail vs. plate/screws) did not affect complication risk. Around three-quarters of fractures achieved radiographic healing at a median of five to six months. Infection and other complications emerged as major risk factors for delayed or impaired union. About a quarter of patients defaulted from care, potentially underestimating late complications and nonunion rates.
conclusionFindings indicate that IF is feasible and effective in this high-need, low-resource context, demonstrating complication rates in line with global estimates. Open fractures, comorbidities, and limited follow-up infrastructure remain the main challenges to optimizing outcomes in such contexts.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.