Outcomes of autologous bone grafts vs bone substitutes in tibial plateau fractures: A meta-analysis

Table 4 Methodological factors impact analysis

Factor	Subgroup	Joint depression	Secondary collapse	Operative time	Blood loss
Publication period	2008-2015	MD = 0.17 (-0.58, 0.91)	RR = 2.01 (0.98, 4.11)	-	MD = 200.00 (-94.29, 494.29)
	2016-2021	-	RR = 0.98 (0.73, 1.31)	MD = 21.14 (15.62, 26.66)	MD = 70.38 (61.53, 79.22)
	P value for difference	N/A	0.08	N/A	0.17
Study quality	A-rated	MD = 0.00 (-2.06, 2.06)	RR = 0.98 (0.73, 1.31)	MD = 21.14 (15.62, 26.66)	MD = 70.49 (61.65, 79.34)
	B-rated	MD = 0.19 (-0.61, 0.99)	RR = 2.01 (0.98, 4.11)	-	-
	P value for difference	0.87	0.08	N/A	N/A
Sample size	< 50 participants	MD = 0.19 (-0.61, 0.99)	RR = 1.00 (0.32, 3.17)	MD = 19.80 (9.59, 30.01)	MD = 106.69 (47.74, 165.64)
	≥ 50 participants	MD = 0.00 (-2.06, 2.06)	RR = 1.10 (0.82, 1.48)	MD = 21.50 (14.90, 28.10)	MD = 87.00 (29.33, 144.67)
	P value for difference	0.87	0.91	0.79	0.62

Number of studies for each outcome in the order: Joint Depression/Secondary Collapse/Operative Time/Blood Loss; MD: Mean difference (autograft - bone substitute); RR: Risk ratio; All effect sizes shown with 95% Confidence Intervals; N/A: Not applicable (insufficient data for comparison).