Comparison 1. Surgical versus nonsurgical management.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Mortality	3	123	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.56 [0.13, 2.42]
2 Chest deformity	2	86	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.13 [0.03, 0.67]
3 Wound infection	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
4 Pneumonia	3	123	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.36 [0.15, 0.85]
5 Tracheostomy	2	83	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.38 [0.14, 1.02]
6 Duration of mechanical ventilation	3		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
7 Length of intensive care unit stay	2		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected