Effectiveness of suture button fixation versus screw fixation for the management of acute distal tibiofibular syndesmotic injuries: a systematic review protocol. 2023

Matthew G Cehic, and Ruurd Jaarsma, and Ashley Whitehorn
The Department of Orthopaedics, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

The aim of this review is to determine whether suture button fixation is more effective than traditional screw fixation for the management of acute distal tibiofibular syndesmotic injuries. Syndesmotic injuries are common and require surgical management to avoid chronic pain and instability, and to improve long-term functional outcomes. Screw fixation and suture button fixation are the 2 techniques of choice for treatment; however, there remains ongoing debate surrounding which treatment modality delivers the best outcomes, leading to significant variability in practice. The suture button is a relatively new technique; therefore, there is a need for an updated, high-quality systematic review to help guide best practice in syndesmosis injury management. This review will consider studies comparing suture button versus screw fixation of acute (<6 weeks) distal tibiofibular syndesmotic injuries. Patients aged 18 or over, with syndesmotic injuries requiring surgical stabilization, with or without an associated fracture, will be included. The primary outcome of interest will be composite functional ankle scores. Secondary outcomes will include range of motion, pain, joint malreduction, complications rates, re-operation rates, and return to work/sport. This review will be conducted in accordance with the JBI guidelines for systematic reviews of effectiveness. The following electronic databases will be searched: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, The Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science, in addition to gray literature databases. No publication date or language limits will be applied. Two independent reviewers will screen titles, abstracts, and full-text studies, assessing methodological quality using the JBI critical appraisal tools. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach will be used to assess certainty in the findings. PROSPERO CRD42022331211.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D001863 Bone Screws Specialized devices used in ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY to repair bone fractures. Bone Screw,Screw, Bone,Screws, Bone
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000078202 Systematic Reviews as Topic Works about a review of primary literature in health and health policy that attempt to identify, appraise, and synthesize all the empirical evidence that meets specified eligibility criteria to answer a given research question. It's conducted using explicit methods aimed at minimizing bias in order to produce more reliable findings regarding the effects of interventions for prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation that can be used to inform decision making. Systematic Review as Topic,Umbrella Reviews as Topic,Reviews Systematic as Topic
D012196 Review Literature as Topic Works about published materials which provide an examination of recent or current literature. These articles can cover a wide range of subject matter at various levels of completeness and comprehensiveness based on analyses of literature that may include research findings. The review may reflect the state of the art and may also include reviews as a literary form. State-of-the-Art Review,State-of-the-Art Reviews,Review, State-of-the-Art,Reviews, State-of-the-Art,State of the Art Review,State of the Art Reviews
D013537 Sutures Materials used in closing a surgical or traumatic wound. (From Dorland, 28th ed) Staples, Surgical,Surgical Staples,Staple, Surgical,Surgical Staple,Suture
D016512 Ankle Injuries Harm or hurt to the ankle or ankle joint usually inflicted by an external source. Ankle Sprains,Injuries, Ankle,Syndesmotic Injuries,Ankle Injury,Ankle Sprain,Injuries, Syndesmotic,Injury, Ankle,Injury, Syndesmotic,Sprain, Ankle,Sprains, Ankle,Syndesmotic Injury
D050723 Fractures, Bone Breaks in bones. Bone Fractures,Broken Bones,Spiral Fractures,Torsion Fractures,Bone Fracture,Bone, Broken,Bones, Broken,Broken Bone,Fracture, Bone,Fracture, Spiral,Fracture, Torsion,Fractures, Spiral,Fractures, Torsion,Spiral Fracture,Torsion Fracture

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