Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42894440›Full record

SynthesisJournal of foot and ankle research2026

A Systematic Review of Complications Following Elective Foot and Ankle Surgery.

Lia Spencer, Connor Phillips, Sifat Alam, Kit Ferguson, Richard Feinn, Douglas McHugh, Ewan Kannegieter

Abstract readSystematic ReviewReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of foot and ankle research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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.

Lia SpencerDepartment of Medical Sciences, Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4991-7376
Connor PhillipsDepartment of Medical Sciences, Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2287-1287
Sifat AlamDepartment of Medical Sciences, Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3410-3216
Kit FergusonDepartment of Medical Sciences, Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5385-2534
Richard FeinnDepartment of Medical Sciences, Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut, USA.
Douglas McHughDepartment of Medical Sciences, Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4815-4503
Ewan KannegieterDepartment of Medical Sciences, Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9154-3681

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionComplications following elective foot and ankle surgery are a significant source of morbidity and may impair recovery. Evidence is often procedure specific, limiting a broader understanding. This review aimed to synthesize complication profiles, risk factors, and mitigation strategies across elective procedures.

methodsPubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL were searched for studies published between 1 January 2020 and 30 June 2025. Eligible studies included adults undergoing elective foot and ankle surgery and reporting postoperative complications. Data were extracted on complication type, incidence, and risk factors, and synthesized narratively due to heterogeneity.

resultsNine studies (n = 20,455) were included. Complication rates varied: infection (0.3%-12.5%), wound healing problems (0.5%-10.0%), nonunion (0.8%-18.7%), hardware removal (3.8%-15.5%), nerve injury (0.2%-10.0%), pain or stiffness (0.8%-18.7%), and systemic complications (3.6%-7.4%). Consistent risk factors included diabetes, obesity, smoking, and peripheral vascular disease. Higher complication rates were associated with revision surgery, prolonged operative time, and multisegment reconstruction.

conclusionComplications after elective foot and ankle surgery are common and multifactorial, with consistent risk patterns across procedures. These findings support improved risk stratification, targeted preoperative optimization, and structured postoperative care.

Indexed as

AnkleElective Surgical ProceduresFootOrthopedic ProceduresPostoperative ComplicationsFemaleHumansIncidenceReoperationRisk Factorselective ankle surgeryelective foot surgerynonunionpostoperative complicationsrisk factorssurgical site infectionsystematic review

Identifiers

PMID42894440
PMCPMC13678423

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.