Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Metal screws have even been regarded as the gold standard in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, but now it is being challenged by the application of bioabsorable screws. But there is still controversy whether bioabsorable screw is superior to metal screw. 
OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review of bioabsorable interference screw versus metal interference screw in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.                                     
METHOD: A literature searching of PubMed, Ovid Medline Cochrane Libarary, Embase, EBSCO, CNKI and CBM about bioabsorable interference screw versus metal interference screw in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was done. Hand searching of related journals was carried out. The quality of the eligible studies were assessed according to the Cochrane Handbook 5.0. We used RevMan5.0.23 to do Meta-analysis. The strength of evidence was assessed using GRADE profile.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Eleven Randomized controlled trials and one quasi-randomized controlled trial were eligible for our study. Meta-analysis results demonstrated that there were no significant differences in KT-1000/2000 test, Lachman test, Pivot shift test, IKDC score, Lysholm score,and rate of infection. In bioabsorable interference screw group, tunnel enlargement was more common. The rate of knee effusion was slightly higher in bioabsorable interference screw group. GRADE results showed that there were 6 low quality evidences, 2 very low quality evidences and 4 moderate quality evidences. Bioabsorable screws could acquire the same efficiency compared with metal interference screw. Due to the low quality of included studies, low quality of evidence and short follow-up, further, high quality, and large sample trials are required.