Fracture fixation in extremity trauma with carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFR-PEEK) plates: evidence today

• Published in: European journal of trauma and emergency surgery (Munich : 2007) 2022-06, Vol.48 (3), p.2387-2406
• Main Authors: Chloros, George D., Prodromidis, Apostolos D., Wilson, Jo, Giannoudis, Peter V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Benzophenones; Bone Plates; Carbon Fiber; Clinical outcomes; Critical Care Medicine; Emergency Medicine; Extremities; Fracture Fixation, Internal - methods; Fractures; Humans; Intensive; Ketones; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original; Original Article; Orthopedic apparatus; Orthopedics; Polyethylene Glycols; Polymers; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Sports Medicine; Surgery; Surgical Orthopedics; Surgical outcomes; Surgical techniques; Systematic Reviews as Topic; Traumatic Surgery; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1863-9933; 1863-9941; 1863-9941
• DOI: 10.1007/s00068-021-01778-x

Purpose To compare the CFR-PEEK plates with conventional plates in fracture fixation with regards to clinical and radiological outcomes and complications. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted in four online databases independently by two reviewers using the Cochrane methodology for systematic reviews. The identified relevant studies were assessed against predetermined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Independent data extraction and assessment of risk of bias and study quality was carried out. Results Nine studies (patient n  = 361) out of 6594 records were included for analysis: 2 RCTs ( n  = 63), 3 prospective cohort studies ( n  = 151), and 4 retrospective cohort studies ( n  = 147). Studies were grouped per anatomic area of fixation. Four studies ( n  = 200) examined fixation of proximal humerus fractures. Two studies ( n  = 74) examined fixation of distal radius fractures. Two studies ( n  = 53) assessed outcomes of fixation of distal femur fractures. One study ( n  = 87) assessed the outcomes of fixation of ankle fractures. All nine studies reported very high union rates (from 91% in distal femur to 100% in upper limb) for the CFR-PEEK plate groups and low complication rates. There was no significant difference in clinical outcomes, and rate of complications as compared to the conventional plate groups. Conclusion CFR-PEEK plates have high union rates in extremity fracture fixation similar to conventional plates with comparable good clinical outcomes and a very low and comparable rate of complications. Considering their advantages, CFR-PEEK plates seem to be valid alternative to conventional plating.