Table 3.
Pooled outcomes of all the subgroups
| Outcomes | No. of studies | No. of cases KBS/KTS |
SMD/MD/OR | 95% CI | Heterogeneity | P value of effect size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wound suture time | ||||||
| Arthrotomy | 2 | 73/70 | − 1.62 | [− 2.00, 1.24] | P = 0.45; I2 = 0% | Z = 8.34 (P < 0.00001) |
| Subcutaneous | 2 | 73/70 | − 1.17 | [− 2.07, 0.28] | P = 0.04; I2 = 76% | Z = 2.57 (P = 0.01) |
| Wound complications | ||||||
| Stitch abscess | 3 | 296/307 | 0.53 | [0.20, 1.37] | P = 0.16; I2 = 45% | Z = 1.32 (P = 0.19) |
| Wound dehiscence | 2 | 105/104 | 0.31 | [0.03, 3.13] | NA | Z = 0.99 (P = 0.32) |
| Cellulitis | 3 | 264/273 | 1.31 | [0.48, 3.58] | P = 0.35; I2 = 4% | Z = 0.53 (P = 0.60) |
| Peri-incisional erythema | 1 | 31/29 | 0.60 | [0.09, 3.86] | NA | Z = 0.54 (P = 0.59) |
| Pulmonary embolism | 1 | 191/203 | 3.20 | [0.13, 79.15] | NA | Z = 0.71 (P = 0.48) |
| Knee range of motion | ||||||
| ≤ 6 weeks | 2 | 105/104 | − 0.74 | [− 4.19, 2.71] | P = 0.50; I2 = 0% | Z = 0.42 (P = 0.67) |
| ≤ 3 months | 2 | 105/104 | − 0.30 | [− 2.62, 2.02] | P = 0.05; I2 = 75% | Z = 0.26 (P = 0.80) |
| Knee society score | ||||||
| ≤ 6 weeks | 2 | 246/257 | − 0.22 | [− 3.10,2.66] | P = 0.37; I2 = 0% | Z = 0.15 (P = 0.88) |
| ≤ 3 months | 2 | 105/104 | − 2.04 | [− 3.92, 0.15] | P = 0.35; I2 = 0% | Z = 2.12 (P = 0.03) |
| 1 year | 1 | 50/50 | − 0.5 | [− 3.03, 2.03] | NA | Z = 0.39 (P = 0.70) |
| Intraoperative events | ||||||
| Suture breakages | 2 | 241/253 | 1.99 | [0.01, 401.87] | P = 0.010; I2 = 85% | Z = 0.25 (P = 0.80) |
| Needle stick injuries | 1 | 191/203 | 0.21 | [0.02, 1.80] | NA | Z = 1.43 (P = 0.15) |
KBS knotless barbed sutures, KTS knotted traditional sutures, SMD standardized mean difference, MD mean difference, OR odds ratio, NA not applicable