Table 1.

Parameters for the assessment of included articles

Study characteristics  Year of publication  Journal of publication  Country  Study type  Study period  Number of included patients  Length of follow-up

Patient characteristics  Age (mean and range)  Gender (male or female)  Type of sternal injury (fracture or dislocation)  Location of sternal injury (manubrium, sternomanubrial joint, sternal body, xiphoid process)  Associated injuries (isolated or combined sternal injury)  Acute (< 1 month) or non-healing sternal fracture (> 3 months) (if applicable)  Comorbidities

Treatment methods  Type of treatment (surgical or conservative)  Conservative treatment method (if applicable)  Surgical indication (if applicable)  Type of fixation material (if applicable)

Treatment outcomes  Primary outcome parameters   (Fracture) healing   Sternal stability

Secondary outcome parameters   Pain relief   Treatment complications   Removal of fixation material (if applicable)   Other re-operation (if applicable)   Hospital length of stay