Ditsios K, Christidis P, Konstantinou P, Pinto I, Christidis G, Ditsios T, Kostretzis L, Katsimenzas T, Chitas K, Papadopoulos P. Floating Elbow in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Orthop Rev (Pavia) 2022;
14:31843. [PMID:
38350018 PMCID:
PMC9036515 DOI:
10.52965/001c.31843]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
We aimed to systematically review all papers examining floating elbow injuries in adults.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
MEDLINE, Cochrane Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma, PROSPERO, and Scopus databases were searched up to August 31, 2020. Included studies had as a primary or secondary outcome the functional outcomes after a floating elbow injury on patients aged 17 or older. Methodological quality of the included studies was assessed.
RESULTS
Thirty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. Patients were male at 73,1%. Median age of the patients was 33,0 years and median time of follow-up was 19,5 months. Articular surfaces were affected at 24,4%, whereas 51,2% of the fractures was open. Approximately, 34,9% of the patients suffered neural injury. Ipsilateral and multiple-system injuries were present in 34,8% and 76,3 % of the cases, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that intra-articular and nerve damage, open fractures and multi-system injuries affected range of motion, union and complications. Sex, age, vascular damage and ipsilateral injuries of the patient did not adversely impact the outcome. All of the included studies were classified as very-low quality of evidence.
CONCLUSIONS
The current knowledge regarding the characteristics of floating elbow in adults is limited, albeit we were able to provide possible pre-operative predictor outcomes.
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