Exploring influences and risk of bias of studies on return to sport and work after lateral ankle sprain: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Table 2 Study characteristics and patient geographics

Ref.	Study design	RTS or RTW	Sample size, n	Sex, F:M	Age, yr (± SD)	Patient population	Follow-up, month (± SD)	Loss to follow-up
Avci et al[25], 1998	RCT	RTW	57 (64 enrolled)	20:37	Mean = 28.9 (NR)	General	1.5	7 (11)
Bouveau et al[32], 2022	RCS	RTS	40	17:23	Median = 32.9 (range: 15.6-59.9)	Active population	Median 28.8	NA
Cooke et al[13], 2009	RCT	RTW	584	247:337	Mean = 30 (± 10.8)	General	9	34 (6)
Eiff et al[35], 1994	RCT	RTW	82	NR	Range = 16-50 (mean/median: NR)	Military	12	6 (7)
Hong et al[40], 2022	PCS	RTS	147	16:131	Mean = 24.4 (± 4.9)	Athletes	24	0
Hou et al[30], 2022	RCT	RTS	70	36:34	Arthroscopic: Mean = 28.3 (± 5.4); open surgery mean = 28.6 (± 4.8)	Active population	24	10 (13)
Hupperets et al[27], 2009	RCT	RTS	552	248:274	Mean = 28 (± 11.7)	Athletes	12	14 (3)
Leanderson et al[38], 1995	RCT	RTW	73	25:48	Mean = 28 (NR)	General	2.5	NR
Lee et al[41], 2019	PCS	RTW	18	9:9	Mean = 19.3 (± 3.0)	Athletes	Mean = 28.8 (± 4.3)	0
Lee et al[42], 2020	RCS	RTW	125	35:90	Mean = 32 (± 7)	Military	Min 12, Mean 84 (NR)	NR
Liu et al[43], 2022	RCS	RTS	64	20:44	Mean one anchor = 30.5 (± 9.5); mean two anchor = 29.6 (± 8.0)	Active population	24	NR
May et al [42], 2022	RCS	RTS	59	21:20a	Mean returners = 27.2 (± 9.3); mean non-returners = 27.1 (± 7.7)	Active population	Min 24	18 (30)
Melton et al[33], 2018	RCS	RTW	127	10:117	Mean = 30.4 (± 6)	Military	1	0
O’Connor et al[26], 2020	RCT	RTW	60	20:40	Mean = 29.5 (NR)	General	1	10 (17%)
Punt et al[28], 2015	RCT	RTS	90	39:51	Wii Fit™ mean = 34.3 (± 10.7); physical therapy mean = 34.7 (± 11.3); no therapy mean = 33.5 (± 9.5)	General	1.5	2 (2%)
Razzano et al[29], 2019	RCT	RTS	61	28:33	Mean = 23 (NR)	Athletes	4	0
Rhon et al[36], 2021	RCS	RTS	6150	8818:15684b	Median = 31.75 (range: NR)b	Military	12	NA
Slatyer et al[24], 1997	RCT	RTW	364	54:310	Range = 18-35 (median: NR)	Military	6	0
Takao et al[31], 2020	PCS	RTS	93	65:28	Mean = 22.2 (± 12.5)	Athletes	12	NR
Wang et al[34], 2023	RCT	RTS and RTW	64	39:22	Open mean = 28.6 (± 8.1); arthroscopic mean = 27.1 (± 7.7)	Generalized joint laxity patients	24	3 (4.7)
White et al[23], 2016	PCS	RTS	42	5:37	Median = 22 (range: NR)	Elite athletes	Median = 44 (range: NR)	0

Data are n (%).

^aSex reported on 41 patients excluding the lost to follow (n = 18).

^bSex and mean age were only reported for the initially identified cohort (n = 24502) and not for the final included cohort (n = 6150).

F: Female; M: Male; Min: Minimum; NA: Not available; NR: Not reported; PCS: Prospective cohort study; RCS: Retrospective cohort study; RCT: Randomized controlled trial; RTS: Return to sport; RTW: Return to work; SD: Standard deviation.