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Meta-Analysis
. 2015 Mar 30;2015(3):CD010261.
doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010261.pub2.

Surgical interventions for treating distal tibial metaphyseal fractures in adults

Liang Tseng Kuo  1 , Ching-Chi Chi, Ching-Hui Chuang
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Surgical interventions for treating distal tibial metaphyseal fractures in adults

Liang Tseng Kuo et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. .

Abstract

Background: The distal tibial metaphysis is located in the lower (distal) part of the tibia (shin bone). Fractures of this part of the tibia are most commonly due to a high energy injury in young men and to osteoporosis in older women. The optimal methods of surgical intervention for a distal tibial metaphyseal fracture remain uncertain.

Objectives: To assess the effects (benefits and harms) of surgical interventions for distal tibial metaphyseal fractures in adults. We planned to compare surgical versus non-surgical (conservative) treatment, and different methods of surgical intervention.

Search methods: We searched the Cochrane Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma Group Specialised Register (9 December 2014), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (2014, Issue 12), MEDLINE (1946 to November Week 3 2014), EMBASE (1980 to 2014 Week 48), the Airiti Library (1967 to 2014 Week 8), China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database (1915 to 2014 Week 8), ClinicalTrials.gov (February 2014) and reference lists of included studies.

Selection criteria: We included randomised and quasi-randomised controlled clinical studies comparing surgical versus non-surgical (conservative) treatment or different surgical interventions for treating distal tibial metaphyseal fractures in adults. Our primary outcomes were patient-reported function and the need for secondary or revision surgery or substantive physiotherapy because of adverse outcomes.

Data collection and analysis: Two authors independently selected studies, assessed the risk of bias in each study and extracted data. We resolved disagreement by discussion and, where necessary, in consultation with a third author. Where appropriate we pooled data using the fixed-effect model.

Main results: We included three randomised trials that evaluated intramedullary nailing versus plating in 213 participants, with useable data from 173 participants of whom 112 were male. The mean age of participants in individual studies ranged from 41 to 44 years. There were no trials comparing surgery with non-surgical treatment. The three included trials were at high risk of performance bias, with one trial also being at high risk of selection, detection and attrition bias. Overall, the quality of available evidence was rated as very low for all outcomes, meaning that we are very unsure about the estimates for all outcomes.The results of two large ongoing trials of nailing versus plating are likely to provide sufficient evidence to address this issue in a future update.

Authors' conclusions: Overall, there is either no or insufficient evidence to draw definitive conclusions on the use of surgery or the best surgical intervention for distal tibial metaphyseal fractures in adults. The available evidence, which is of very low quality, found no clinically important differences in function or pain, and did not confirm a difference in the need for re-operation or risk of complications between nailing and plating.The addition of evidence from two ongoing trials of nailing versus plating should inform this question in future updates. Further randomised trials are warranted on other issues, but should be preceded by research to identify priority questions.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Liang Tseng Kuo: none known Ching‐Chi Chi: none known Ching‐Hui Chuang: none known

Figures

1
1
Study flow diagram
2
2
'Risk of bias' graph: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item presented as percentages across all included studies
3
3
'Risk of bias' summary: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item for each included study
1.1
1.1. Analysis
Comparison 1 Nailing versus plating, Outcome 1 Patient‐reported functional outcome (pooled data).
1.2
1.2. Analysis
Comparison 1 Nailing versus plating, Outcome 2 Patient‐reported functional outcome.
1.3
1.3. Analysis
Comparison 1 Nailing versus plating, Outcome 3 Need for a secondary/revision operation or substantive physiotherapy for adverse outcomes (e.g. nonunion, malunion, and infection).
1.4
1.4. Analysis
Comparison 1 Nailing versus plating, Outcome 4 Symptomatic nonunion or malunion, including limping.
1.5
1.5. Analysis
Comparison 1 Nailing versus plating, Outcome 5 Pain (0 to 40: no pain) at 12 months.
1.6
1.6. Analysis
Comparison 1 Nailing versus plating, Outcome 6 Wound complications including superficial/deep wound infection and osteomyelitis.
1.7
1.7. Analysis
Comparison 1 Nailing versus plating, Outcome 7 Fracture union.
1.8
1.8. Analysis
Comparison 1 Nailing versus plating, Outcome 8 Fracture union time (weeks).
1.9
1.9. Analysis
Comparison 1 Nailing versus plating, Outcome 9 Operation time (minutes).
1.10
1.10. Analysis
Comparison 1 Nailing versus plating, Outcome 10 Radiation time (minutes).
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  • doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010261

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References

References to studies included in this review

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