Table 4.

GRADE summary table for risk of complications requiring operation

Group	Rank	Intervention	Odds ratio (95% CI)	NNT	Quality of evidence
All patients	1	Intramedullary fixation	0.06 (< 0.01 to 0.85)a	7	Lowb,c
	2	Volar locking plate	0.17 (0.02 to 1.04)	7	Moderateb
	3	Nonbridging external fixation	0.01 (< 0.01 to 0.25)a	7	Lowb,d
	4	Bridging external fixation	0.08 (< 0.01 to 0.60)a	7	Lowd,e
	5	Percutaneous pinning	0.07 (< 0.01 to 0.60)a	7	Moderated
Intraarticular	1	Percutaneous pinning	0.09 (< 0.01 to 5.3)	6	Very lowd,f
	2	Bridging external fixation	0.17 (< 0.01 to 7.2)	6	Very lowd,e,f
Extraarticular	1	Intramedullary fixation	0.02 (< 0.01 to 2.7)	11	Lowf
	2	Bridging external fixation	0.10 (< 0.01 to 4.5)	12	Very lowd,f
Average age older than 60 years	1	Bridging external fixation	0.03 (< 0.01 to 3.5)	7	Lowf
	2	Intramedullary fixation	0.16 (< 0.01 to 11)	8	Very lowc,f

^aInferred to be statistically significant with a 95% CI for mean difference not crossing zero.

^bDowngraded for imprecision.

^cDowngraded for indirectness.

^dDowngraded for inconsistency.

^eDowngraded for risk of bias.

^fDowngraded two levels for imprecision.

Odds ratios are relative to nonoperative treatment; rank based on SUCRA value; small sample size was considered in the evaluation of imprecision; GRADE = Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation; NNT = number needed to treat.