Table 1.

The respective search string of the different included databases.

Database	Search string
Pubmed	(((proximal interphalangeal joint[Title/Abstract]) OR (pij[Title/Abstract]) OR (pip-joint[Title/Abstract]) OR (finger[Title/Abstract]) OR (digital[Title/Abstract]) OR (pipj[Title/Abstract]) OR (proximal interphalangeal[Title/Abstract])) AND ((arthrodesis[Title/Abstract]) OR (fusion[Title/Abstract]))) NOT equine[Title/Abstract]
Embase	(‘proximal interphalangeal joint’/exp OR pij:ab,ti OR ‘pip joint’:ab,ti OR ‘proximal interphalangeal joint’:ti,ab OR ‘digital’:ab,ti OR ‘finger’:ab,ti) AND (‘arthrodesis’:ti,ab OR ‘fusion’:ab,ti) AND [embase]/lim
Cochrane Library	(pij OR pip joint OR pip-joint OR proximal-interpalangeal-joint OR proximal interphalangeal joint OR digital OR finger) AND (arthrodesis OR fusion)
Google Scholar	allintitle: (“pij” OR “pip joint” OR “proximal interphalangeal joint” OR “digital” OR “finger”) AND (“arthrodesis” OR “fusion”)