2.3. Data Extraction

Titles and abstracts of studies were retrieved using the search strategy and extracted independently by two different authors (DK & CK), who screened the titles and abstracts of the retrieved papers for eligibility and analyzed the full-text articles that met the eligibility criteria.

The examined variables were: 1. demographic characteristics of the patient (gender and age), 2. physical activity of the patient, 3. time-interval from pain development to diagnosis, 4. diagnostic imaging tools, 5. fracture type based on radiological data available and categorized according to the proposed classification, 6. final treatment and 7. time-interval from diagnosis to return to previous status.

Data were recorded and analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2019 (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, USA).