Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41894028›Full record

ReviewOrthopadie (Heidelberg, Germany)2026

[Knee joint distraction : A short narrative literature review].

Florian Springer, Felix Ferner, Julian Fürmetz

Abstract readEnglish AbstractReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Orthopadie (Heidelberg, Germany), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

3 authors.

Florian SpringerAbteilung für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, BG Unfallklinik Murnau, Professor-Küntscher-Straße 8, 82418, Murnau am Staffelsee, Deutschland. florian.springer@bgu-murnau.de.
Felix FernerSana Klinikum Lichtenfels, Lichtenfels, Deutschland.
Julian FürmetzAbteilung für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, BG Unfallklinik Murnau, Professor-Küntscher-Straße 8, 82418, Murnau am Staffelsee, Deutschland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundKnee osteoarthritis is a prevalent degenerative disease with considerable impact on quality of life and function. Conservative therapies are typically symptomatic only, while total knee arthroplasty shows high revision rates in younger patients. Knee joint distraction (KJD) represents an alternative joint-preserving clinical strategy.

objectivesNarrative assessment of current evidence on KJD regarding clinical efficacy and structural effects, and its potential role in the therapeutic spectrum of knee osteoarthritis. MATERIALS AND

methodsStructured literature search in PubMed (2010-2025) analyzing 13 clinical studies. INCLUSION CRITERIA: clinical KJD application with outcome parameters (WOMAC, KOOS, VAS) and structural measurements. Assessment performed qualitatively.

resultsKJD leads to significant improvements in WOMAC and KOOS scores, which are sustained over several years. Structurally, an increase in cartilage thickness, an improvement in the dGEMRIC index, and an increase in joint space width have been observed for up to 10 years after the intervention. Compared with high tibial osteotomy (HTO), similar functional outcomes are reported, while the structural improvements suggesting cartilage regeneration after KJD should be interpreted with caution. The main complications are pin tract infections, occurring in approximately 63% of cases and representing a key procedure-specific risk, although they can be managed with oral antibiotic therapy in the majority of patients.

conclusionsKJD is establishing itself as a promising joint-preserving option for selective patient groups (40-65 years, medial/bicompartmental osteoarthritis, no significant axis deformities), though long-term independent RCTs are required.

Indexed as

CartilageOsteoarthritis, kneeOsteotomyQuality of lifeRegeneration

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

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.