Table 4 Potential impact of publication bias for all outcomes
Outcome | Potential Publication Bias Impact | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Operative time | Minimal | The effect size remains significant after adjustment, suggesting limited influence of bias on observed heterogeneity |
Complications | Moderate | Initial findings may have been overestimated due to bias, as indicated by the non-significant effect after adjustment |
Surgical site infection | Moderate | Initial effect size was influenced by bias, but the result remained non-significant after adjustment |
Implant removal | Minimal | The significant effect persists even after adjusting for bias, indicating limited effect of bias on results |
Time-To-Union | Minimal | Bias had little impact on the non-significant result |
Nonunion Rates | Minimal | Publication bias does not substantially affect the non-significant result |
DASH scores | Minimal | Publication bias does not substantially affect the non-significant result |
Grace–Eversmann scores | Moderate | Initial significant effect was influenced by bias, with adjustment showing a non-significant effect |