ReviewLaryngoscope investigative otolaryngology2026
Middle Meatal Spacers for Synechiae Prevention Following Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Review in Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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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.
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.
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Objective: To determine whether middle meatal spacers reduce postoperative synechiae following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and to compare the effectiveness of absorbable versus nonabsorbable spacer materials. Methods: A PRISMA 2020-guided systematic review and meta-analysis was performed. PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science were searched (January 2012-March 2025) for randomized controlled trials in adults undergoing ESS comparing middle meatal spacers versus no-spacer controls. The primary outcome was synechiae within 3 months. Random-effects meta-analysis generated pooled relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI); prespecified subgroup and sensitivity analyses assessed robustness. Results: Nine randomized controlled trials comprising 703 patients met inclusion criteria, with eight studies providing dichotomous synechiae data for meta-analysis. Middle meatal spacers significantly reduced postoperative synechiae compared with no spacer (RR 0.43; 95% CI 0.26-0.71; Conclusion: Middle meatal spacers reduce postoperative synechiae after ESS, with the most consistent evidence supporting absorbable materials. Given wide variation in baseline synechiae risk, selective rather than routine use is supported.
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