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Search review questions
Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.
775 questions in 58 reviews · Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma
current versionsNo studies 166 · 21.4%Ungraded 24 · 3.1%Very low 356 · 45.9%Low 162 · 20.9%Moderate 47 · 6.1%High 20 · 2.6%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Bioabsorbable vs metallic interference screws Activity level: Tegner score ( 0 to 10; higher scores = greater activity) · Adults undergoing surgical reconstruction of a ruptured ACL1 Bioabsorbable versus metallic interference screws for graft fixation in anterior cruciate ligament… (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 72 participants | Very low |
Mosaicplasty vs microfracture Function (all scores/instruments): intermediate term IKDC 2000 (version) score. Scale from: 0 to 100; higher scores = better function. · Adults with isolated cartilage defects (defect areas 1.0 cm2 to 6.0 cm2) of the knee Surgical interventions (microfracture, drilling, mosaicplasty, and allograft transplantation) for treating… (2016) · Cochrane | MD 10.29 [7.87, 12.71] | 1 study · 57 participants | Very low |
Mosaicplasty vs microfracture Function (all scores/instruments): long term Scale from: 0 to 100; higher scores = better function. · Adults with isolated cartilage defects (defect areas 1.0 cm2 to 6.0 cm2) of the knee Surgical interventions (microfracture, drilling, mosaicplasty, and allograft transplantation) for treating… (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 72 participants | Very low |
Mosaicplasty vs microfracture Quality of life: long‐term KOOS QOL score. Scale 0 to 100; higher scores = better QOL · Adults with isolated cartilage defects (defect areas 1.0 cm2 to 6.0 cm2) of the knee Surgical interventions (microfracture, drilling, mosaicplasty, and allograft transplantation) for treating… (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 25 participants | Very low |
Mosaicplasty vs microfracture Failure of treatment and adverse effects: long‐term Participants with surgery and symptom recurrence · Adults with isolated cartilage defects (defect areas 1.0 cm2 to 6.0 cm2) of the knee Surgical interventions (microfracture, drilling, mosaicplasty, and allograft transplantation) for treating… (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.47 [0.24, 0.9] | 3 studies · 129 participants | Very low |
Mosaicplasty vs microfracture Pain: long‐term KOOS Pain score. Scale 0 to 100; higher scores = less pain · Adults with isolated cartilage defects (defect areas 1.0 cm2 to 6.0 cm2) of the knee Surgical interventions (microfracture, drilling, mosaicplasty, and allograft transplantation) for treating… (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 25 participants | Very low |
Mosaicplasty vs microfracture Activity: intermediate term (1 to 5 years · Adults with isolated cartilage defects (defect areas 1.0 cm2 to 6.0 cm2) of the knee Surgical interventions (microfracture, drilling, mosaicplasty, and allograft transplantation) for treating… (2016) · Cochrane | MD 0.48 [0.21, 0.75] | 1 study · 57 participants | Very low |
Mosaicplasty vs microfracture Activity: long term (5 or more years · Adults with isolated cartilage defects (defect areas 1.0 cm2 to 6.0 cm2) of the knee Surgical interventions (microfracture, drilling, mosaicplasty, and allograft transplantation) for treating… (2016) · Cochrane | MD 0.2 [0.46, 0.98] | 1 study · 25 participants | Very low |
Ankle brace vs rigid cast Modified Activities Scale for Kids‐performance (ASKp) score (0 to 100%: best outcome) at 4 weeks · children with acute 'low risk' (undisplaced) ankle fractures Interventions for treating ankle fractures in children (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 104 participants | Low |
Ankle brace vs rigid cast Unacceptable anatomy: leg‐length discrepancy, limp, abnormal gait · children with acute 'low risk' (undisplaced) ankle fractures Interventions for treating ankle fractures in children (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Ankle brace vs rigid cast Number of children experiencing adverse outcomes at 4 weeks · children with acute 'low risk' (undisplaced) ankle fractures Interventions for treating ankle fractures in children (2016) · Cochrane | RR 2 [0.83, 4.81] | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |
Ankle brace vs rigid cast Time to resume pre‐injury level of activity (days) · children with acute 'low risk' (undisplaced) ankle fractures Interventions for treating ankle fractures in children (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |
Ankle brace vs rigid cast Return to pre‐injury levels of activity at 4 weeks · children with acute 'low risk' (undisplaced) ankle fractures Interventions for treating ankle fractures in children (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.36 [1.02, 1.8] | 1 study · 94 participants | Very low |
Ankle brace vs rigid cast Patient satisfaction: would have preferred the other device · children with acute 'low risk' (undisplaced) ankle fractures Interventions for treating ankle fractures in children (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.1 [0.03, 0.32] | 1 study · 103 participants | Low |
Ankle brace vs rigid cast Faces Pain Scale score at 4 weeks' post ‐injury (0 to 10: greatest pain) · children with acute 'low risk' (undisplaced) ankle fractures Interventions for treating ankle fractures in children (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 104 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR Subjective knee score ‐ KOOS‐4 score (mean score of 4 components) at 2 years: score from 0 (extreme symptoms) to 100 (no symptoms) · Adults with acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries (young, active individuals) Surgical versus conservative interventions for treating anterior cruciate ligament injuries (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 121 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Serious adverse events (such as donor site morbidity, failure of graft including re‐rupture) at 2 years · Adults with acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries (young, active individuals) Surgical versus conservative interventions for treating anterior cruciate ligament injuries (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 121 participants | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Treatment failure (graft rupture or ACL reconstruction) at 2 years5 · Adults with acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries (young, active individuals) Surgical versus conservative interventions for treating anterior cruciate ligament injuries (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.12 [0.04, 0.34] | 1 study · 121 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Treatment failure (meniscal surgery) at 5 years5,7 · Adults with acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries (young, active individuals) Surgical versus conservative interventions for treating anterior cruciate ligament injuries (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.88 [0.62, 1.25] | 1 study · 120 participants | Low |
Intervention NR General health‐related quality of life: SF‐36 physical component score (range 0 to 100; higher score = better health state) at 2 years · Adults with acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries (young, active individuals) Surgical versus conservative interventions for treating anterior cruciate ligament injuries (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 121 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Return to activity or level of sport at 2 years · Adults with acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries (young, active individuals) Surgical versus conservative interventions for treating anterior cruciate ligament injuries (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.22 [0.78, 1.91] | 1 study · 121 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Osteoarthritis at 5 years · Adults with acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries (young, active individuals) Surgical versus conservative interventions for treating anterior cruciate ligament injuries (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.8 [0.92, 3.52] | 1 study · 113 participants | Very low |
Intramedullary fixation vs open reduction and internal fixation with plate Function or disability (overall) Various tools (Constant score and Oxford Shoulder Score) · adults (aged ≥ 16 years) with acute middle third clavicle fractures Surgical interventions for treating acute fractures or non‐union of the middle third of the clavicle (2015) · Cochrane | SMD 0.45 [0.08, 0.81] | 3 studies · 120 participants | Low |
Intramedullary fixation vs open reduction and internal fixation with plate Pain ‐ using the section of Constant score Scale from 0 to 15; with 15 being the best positive score · adults (aged ≥ 16 years) with acute middle third clavicle fractures Surgical interventions for treating acute fractures or non‐union of the middle third of the clavicle (2015) · Cochrane | MD 0.6 | 1 study · 32 participants | Very low |
Intramedullary fixation vs open reduction and internal fixation with plate Treatment failure (participants who have a non‐routine secondary surgical intervention) ‐ Overall treatment failure · adults (aged ≥ 16 years) with acute middle third clavicle fractures Surgical interventions for treating acute fractures or non‐union of the middle third of the clavicle (2015) · Cochrane | RR 0.69 [0.16, 2.97] | 4 studies · 133 participants | Very low |
Intramedullary fixation vs open reduction and internal fixation with plate Clinical healing ‐ time to clinical/radiographic fracture consolidation (weeks) · adults (aged ≥ 16 years) with acute middle third clavicle fractures Surgical interventions for treating acute fractures or non‐union of the middle third of the clavicle (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 98 participants | Very low |
Intramedullary fixation vs open reduction and internal fixation with plate Adverse events ‐ total of adverse events (various: mainly infection; cosmetic result ‐ e.g. prominent metalwork ‐ and symptomatic hardware) · adults (aged ≥ 16 years) with acute middle third clavicle fractures Surgical interventions for treating acute fractures or non‐union of the middle third of the clavicle (2015) · Cochrane | RR 0.64 [0.39, 1.03] | 4 studies · 133 participants | Very low |
Intramedullary fixation vs open reduction and internal fixation with plate Quality of life ‐ not measured · adults (aged ≥ 16 years) with acute middle third clavicle fractures Surgical interventions for treating acute fractures or non‐union of the middle third of the clavicle (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Intramedullary fixation vs open reduction and internal fixation with plate Return to previous activities ‐ not measured · adults (aged ≥ 16 years) with acute middle third clavicle fractures Surgical interventions for treating acute fractures or non‐union of the middle third of the clavicle (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Circular external fixation with limited internal fixation (hybrid fixation) vs standard open reduction internal fixation Quality of Life: SF‐36 scale from 0 to 100 (higher scores = better outcome) · adults with tibial plateau fracture (Schatzker types V or VI) Surgical fixation methods for tibial plateau fractures (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 66 participants | Very low |
Circular external fixation with limited internal fixation (hybrid fixation) vs standard open reduction internal fixation HSS score: Scale from 0 to 100 (higher scores indicating greater function) · adults with tibial plateau fracture (Schatzker types V or VI) Surgical fixation methods for tibial plateau fractures (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 66 participants | Low |
Circular external fixation with limited internal fixation (hybrid fixation) vs standard open reduction internal fixation WOMAC function Scale from 0 to 100c (higher scores indicating greater function) · adults with tibial plateau fracture (Schatzker types V or VI) Surgical fixation methods for tibial plateau fractures (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 66 participants | Very low |
Circular external fixation with limited internal fixation (hybrid fixation) vs standard open reduction internal fixation Adverse eventse · adults with tibial plateau fracture (Schatzker types V or VI) Surgical fixation methods for tibial plateau fractures (2015) · Cochrane | RR 0.78 [0.45, 1.32] | 1 study · 83 participants | Very low |
Circular external fixation with limited internal fixation (hybrid fixation) vs standard open reduction internal fixation WOMAC Pain subscale from 0 to 100c (higher scores indicating greater function) · adults with tibial plateau fracture (Schatzker types V or VI) Surgical fixation methods for tibial plateau fractures (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 66 participants | Very low |
Circular external fixation with limited internal fixation (hybrid fixation) vs standard open reduction internal fixation Knee total range of motion (degrees) · adults with tibial plateau fracture (Schatzker types V or VI) Surgical fixation methods for tibial plateau fractures (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 66 participants | Very low |
Circular external fixation with limited internal fixation (hybrid fixation) vs standard open reduction internal fixation Return to pre‐injury activity level · adults with tibial plateau fracture (Schatzker types V or VI) Surgical fixation methods for tibial plateau fractures (2015) · Cochrane | RR 2.5 [0.87, 7.18] | 1 study · 66 participants | Very low |
Liberal vs restrictive threshold transfusion 30‐day mortality · people undergoing hip fracture surgery1 Red blood cell transfusion for people undergoing hip fracture surgery (2015) · Cochrane | RR 0.92 [0.67, 1.26] | 5 studies · 2683 participants | Low |
Liberal vs restrictive threshold transfusion Inability to walk 10 feet (3 m; or across a room) without human assistance · people undergoing hip fracture surgery1 Red blood cell transfusion for people undergoing hip fracture surgery (2015) · Cochrane | RR 1 [0.87, 1.15] | 2 studies · 2083 participants | Low |
Liberal vs restrictive threshold transfusion Thromboembolism (in hospital) · people undergoing hip fracture surgery1 Red blood cell transfusion for people undergoing hip fracture surgery (2015) · Cochrane | RR 1.15 [0.56, 2.37] | 4 studies · 2416 participants | Low |
Liberal vs restrictive threshold transfusion Stroke (in hospital) · people undergoing hip fracture surgery1 Red blood cell transfusion for people undergoing hip fracture surgery (2015) · Cochrane | RR 2.4 [0.85, 6.79] | 4 studies · 2416 participants | Low |
Liberal vs restrictive threshold transfusion Wound infection (in hospital) · people undergoing hip fracture surgery1 Red blood cell transfusion for people undergoing hip fracture surgery (2015) · Cochrane | RR 1.61 [0.77, 3.35] | 3 studies · 2332 participants | Low |
Liberal vs restrictive threshold transfusion Cardiovascular events ‐ myocardial infarction · people undergoing hip fracture surgery1 Red blood cell transfusion for people undergoing hip fracture surgery (2015) · Cochrane | RR 0.59 [0.36, 0.96] | 3 studies · 2217 participants | Very low |
Liberal vs restrictive threshold transfusion Respiratory infections (namely pneumonia) · people undergoing hip fracture surgery1 Red blood cell transfusion for people undergoing hip fracture surgery (2015) · Cochrane | RR 1.35 [0.95, 1.92] | 4 studies · 2416 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Patient‐reported functional outcomes (pooled data) · individuals more than 18 years old with distal tibial metaphyseal fractures Surgical interventions for treating distal tibial metaphyseal fractures in adults (2015) · Cochrane | SMD 0.28 | 3 studies · 172 participants | Very low |
Intervention NR Need for a secondary/revision operation or substantive physiotherapy for adverse outcomes (e.g. non‐union, malunion or infection) · individuals more than 18 years old with distal tibial metaphyseal fractures Surgical interventions for treating distal tibial metaphyseal fractures in adults (2015) · Cochrane | RR 0.37 [0.12, 1.12] | 3 studies · 173 participants | Very low |
Intervention NR Symptomatic non‐union or malunion, including limping 1 year · individuals more than 18 years old with distal tibial metaphyseal fractures Surgical interventions for treating distal tibial metaphyseal fractures in adults (2015) · Cochrane | RR 0.72 [0.18, 2.8] | 3 studies · 173 participants | Very low |
Intervention NR Pain (0 to 40: no pain) · individuals more than 18 years old with distal tibial metaphyseal fractures Surgical interventions for treating distal tibial metaphyseal fractures in adults (2015) · Cochrane | MD 1 | 1 study · 85 participants | Very low |
Intervention NR Wound complications including superficial/deep wound infection and osteomyelitis 1 year · individuals more than 18 years old with distal tibial metaphyseal fractures Surgical interventions for treating distal tibial metaphyseal fractures in adults (2015) · Cochrane | RR 0.47 [0.2, 1.1] | 3 studies · 173 participants | Very low |
Intervention NR Fracture union 1 year · individuals more than 18 years old with distal tibial metaphyseal fractures Surgical interventions for treating distal tibial metaphyseal fractures in adults (2015) · Cochrane | RR 1.02 [0.95, 1.09] | 3 studies · 173 participants | Very low |
Exercise therapy vs a control strategy (no treatment, placebo or waiting list controls) Pain during activity (short‐term) Scale (0 to 10; higher scores mean worse pain) · patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (symptoms > 3 weeks (1 study); symptoms > 1 month (3 studies); symptoms > 2… Exercise for treating patellofemoral pain syndrome (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 5 studies · 375 participants | Very low |