Latest Orthopedics and Sports Medicine research

Top 10 this week

Week of 20 September 2026

1. 1

   Quality-of-life outcomes and osteoarthritis development at 10-years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A large randomized clinical trial comparing patellar tendon, hamstring tendon and double-bundle grafts

   Journal of ISAKOS : joint disorders & orthopaedic sports medicine · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 19 September 2026

   In this 10-year randomized trial of 330 patients, all three graft types yielded similar quality-of-life scores, but patellar-tendon grafts had a markedly lower rate of traumatic re-injury (8% versus about 22% for both single- and double-bundle hamstring grafts). However, the patellar-tendon group experienced twice as many lateral osteoarthritis changes. The trade-off between durability and joint wear remains unresolved.

2. 2

   Short or Long Antibiotic Regimens in Orthopedics

   The New England journal of medicine · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 16 September 2026

   In 475 adults who received a local-antibiotic implant during surgery, definite treatment failure by 12 months occurred in 11% of those given up to 7 days of systemic antibiotics versus 14% of those given at least 4 weeks, meeting the pre-specified non-inferiority margin. Short-course patients also reported far fewer treatment-related symptoms (17% vs 45%). The finding supports limiting systemic therapy, though longer-term outcomes remain to be studied.

3. 3

   Robot-assisted versus freehand cannulated-screw fixation for femoral neck fractures: a systematic review of technical, clinical and adoption outcomes

   Journal of robotic surgery · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 15 September 2026

   Systematic review of robot‑assisted vs freehand femoral neck fixation

4. 4

   Platelet-Rich Plasma Provides Greater Pain Relief and Functional Improvement Than Hyaluronic Acid for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

   Journal of ISAKOS : joint disorders & orthopaedic sports medicine · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 15 September 2026

   Systematic review of PRP vs HA for knee OA

5. 5

   Biologic Augmentation Improves Rotator Cuff Integrity But Not Clinically Significant Patient Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

   JB & JS open access · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 22 September 2026

   Meta‑analysis of RCTs on biologic augmentation in rotator cuff repair

6. 6

   Structured exercise interventions and survival outcomes in patients with cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

   British journal of sports medicine · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 15 September 2026

   A meta-analysis of 21 randomized trials found that patients who performed prescribed aerobic or mixed exercise had a 23% lower risk of overall mortality and a 17% lower risk of disease recurrence compared with usual care. Benefits were strongest in early-stage disease and when participants adhered well, but exercise did not improve progression-free survival, highlighting a need for further research on optimal regimens.

7. 7

   Comparative Effectiveness of Exercise Interventions for Hamstring Injury Prevention in Football Players: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis

   Sports medicine - open · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 15 September 2026

   Network meta‑analysis of hamstring injury prevention

8. 8

   Effects of gut microbiota-targeted interventions on pain, physical function, and inflammatory biomarkers in osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

   Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 4 September 2026

   Systematic review of gut‑targeted interventions in OA

9. 9

   The big picture of poststroke aphasia, neglect, and cognitive impairment trials: an overview of 3 systematic reviews

   Annals of physical and rehabilitation medicine · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 18 September 2026

   Overview of stroke trials, not orthopaedic

10. 10

    Offloading strategies for diabetic foot ulcers: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

    Foot and ankle surgery : official journal of the European Society of Foot and Ankle Surgeons · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 16 September 2026

    Surgical offloading RCT for diabetic foot ulcers

Paper of the day, last two weeks

• Fourfold higher graft failure risk with isolated BPTB versus hamstring ACL reconstruction with ALL in patients under 25 years: A prespecified subgroup analysis of a randomized controlled trial

  Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 21 September 2026

  Prespecified subgroup RCT analysis of BPTB vs HT‑ALLR graft failure

• Bone Marrow Aspirate Augmentation Reduces Reoperation Rates After Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation of the Knee: A Systematic Review

  Arthroscopy : the journal of arthroscopic & related surgery : official publication of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Arthroscopy Association · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 20 September 2026

  BMA augmentation reduces reoperation after osteochondral allograft knee transplant

• Peripheral Artery Disease Is Associated With Increased Complications Following Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty

  The Journal of arthroplasty · Q1 journal · Retrospective cohort · Evidence level 3 (Low) · 15 September 2026

  In a matched analysis of 5,552 hip-replacement patients with peripheral artery disease, the odds of any lower-extremity amputation were almost four times higher than in those without PAD. PAD also raised early infection, transfusion and revision rates, and increased three-year mortality, highlighting the need for vascular optimization before elective THA.

• Stress displacement and surgical benefit in Beckmann 7-9 pelvic ring injuries: A retrospective multicenter analysis

  Injury · Q1 journal · Prospective cohort · Evidence level 2 (Moderate) · 9 September 2026

  Stress displacement and surgery benefit in Beckmann 7‑9 pelvic ring

• Immediate Self-Rehabilitation With Versus Without Sling Immobilization After Open Latarjet Procedures for Recurrent Anterior Shoulder Instability: A Randomized Controlled Trial

  The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 14 September 2026

  In a randomized trial of 86 young men, patients who began self-rehab without a sling achieved Rowe scores roughly 12 points higher and SANE instability scores about 8 points higher than those immobilized for three weeks, with greater satisfaction and no increase in early complications. Both groups returned to sport quickly, suggesting routine sling use after open Latarjet may be unnecessary.

• Injection of Leukocyte-Poor Platelet-Rich Plasma During Rotator Cuff Repair Can Increase Healing Rate but Does Not Affect Clinical Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

  Arthroscopy : the journal of arthroscopic & related surgery : official publication of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Arthroscopy Association · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 12 September 2026

  In a meta-analysis of five randomized trials (470 shoulders), injecting leukocyte-poor platelet-rich plasma during arthroscopic repair reduced structural failure from 29% to about 16%, roughly a 45% relative risk reduction. Functional scores improved slightly but never reached clinically meaningful thresholds, and complication rates were similar. The technique appears safe and may boost healing, yet it does not translate into noticeable symptom relief.

• Comparison of outcomes based on treatment type for geriatric acetabular fractures: A systematic review and meta-analysis

  Injury · Q1 journal · SR of cohorts · Evidence level 2 (Moderate) · 5 September 2026

  Outcomes of geriatric acetabular fractures: ORIF vs arthroplasty

• Functional alignment robotic-assisted TKA improves clinical outcomes compared with conventional mechanical alignment TKA: A single-surgeon randomised controlled non-inferiority trial with 2-year follow-up

  Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 11 September 2026

  In a single-surgeon randomized trial of 163 patients, knees implanted with robotic-assisted functional alignment showed slightly higher Knee Society, Oxford, and pain scores through two-year follow-up compared with conventional mechanical alignment. The advantages were statistically significant but small (effect sizes up to 0.21), suggesting a modest clinical edge that warrants further confirmation in larger, multi-surgeon studies.

• Effect of perioperative multistrain probiotics on the CT callus volume fraction at 12 weeks after surgery for closed tibial shaft fracture: a single-center randomized controlled study

  Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 24 August 2026

  Probiotics improve tibial shaft fracture healing (RCT)

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging Assessment of Muscle Damage After Postero-lateral Versus Supercapsular Percutaneously-Assisted Total Hip Approaches: A Randomized Controlled Trial

  The Journal of arthroplasty · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 8 September 2026

  In a randomized trial of 82 hip replacements, the minimally invasive SuperPATH technique preserved the quadratus femoris muscle, showing only 7% fatty infiltration compared with 85% after the conventional postero-lateral approach, and maintained tendon continuity in all cases. Early pain scores and hip scores were better with SuperPATH, but by one year clinical outcomes were similar, leaving the long-term relevance of the muscle preservation uncertain.

• Intramedullary nailing compared with primary total hip arthroplasty for pertrochanteric fractures in autonomous elderly patients : a prospective randomized study

  Bone & joint open · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 9 September 2026

  RCT comparing intramedullary nailing vs primary THA for fractures

Evidence summaries in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

• Hip Fracture
• Radial Nerve
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear