Abstract
BackgroundSurgical interventions raise specific methodological issues in network meta-analysis (NMA). They are usually multi-component interventions resulting in complex networks of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with multiple groups and sparse connections.PurposeTo illustrate the applicability of the NMA in a complex network of surgical interventions and to prioritize the available interventions according to a clinically relevant outcome.MethodsWe considered RCTs of treatments for femoral neck fracture in adults. We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE and ClinicalTrials.gov up to November 2015. Two reviewers independently selected trials, extracted data and used the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing the risk of bias. A group of orthopedic surgeons grouped similar but not identical interventions under the same node. We synthesized the network using a Bayesian network meta-analysis model. We derived posterior odds ratios (ORs) and 95% credible intervals (95% CrIs) for all possible pairwise comparisons. The primary outcome was all-cause revision surgery.ResultsData from 27 trials were combined, for 4,186 participants (72% women, mean age 80 years, 95% displaced fractures). The median follow-up was 2 years. With hemiarthroplasty (HA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) as a comparison, risk of surgical revision was significantly higher with the treatments unthreaded cervical osteosynthesis (OR 8.0 [95% CrI 3.6–15.5] and 5.9 [2.4–12.0], respectively), screw (9.4 [6.0–16.5] and 6.7 [3.9–13.6]) and plate (12.5 [5.8–23.8] and 7.8 [3.8–19.4]).ConclusionsIn older women with displaced femoral neck fractures, arthroplasty (HA and THA) is the most effective treatment in terms of risk of revision surgery.Systematic Review RegistrationPROSPERO no. CRD42013004218.Level of EvidenceNetwork Meta-Analysis, Level 1.
Highlights
Network meta-analysis (NMA) allows for comparing the relative benefits associated with multiple interventions used for the same disease [1]
Surgical interventions raise specific methodological issues in network meta-analysis (NMA). They are usually multi-component interventions resulting in complex networks of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with multiple groups and sparse connections
We considered RCTs of treatments for femoral neck fracture in adults
Summary
Network meta-analysis (NMA) allows for comparing the relative benefits associated with multiple interventions used for the same disease [1]. Surgical interventions may raise specific methodological issues in NMA They are usually multi-component interventions, which are frequently poorly described and assessed with a wide range of outcome measures in primary trials [2]. This diversity may result in complex networks of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with multiple groups and sparse connections. We illustrate these potential issues with an NMA of treatments for femoral neck fractures. Surgical interventions raise specific methodological issues in network meta-analysis (NMA) They are usually multi-component interventions resulting in complex networks of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with multiple groups and sparse connections. To illustrate the applicability of the NMA in a complex network of surgical interventions and to prioritize the available interventions according to a clinically relevant outcome
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