Meta-Analysis of Incidence, Clinical Characteristics and Implications of Stent Fracture

A meta-analysis of published studies was conducted to evaluate the incidence, predictors, and clinical outcomes of stent fractures. Eight studies with 108 stent fractures in 5,321 patients were analyzed using the Bayesian method. Study end points included in-stent restenosis (ISR) and target lesion revascularization (TLR). The mean incidence of stent fracture per patient was 4.0% (95% confidence interval 0.4% to 16.3%). All cases, except 1, were reported with sirolimus-eluting stents. The incidence of stent fracture was 30.4% in the left anterior descending coronary artery, 10.9% in the left circumflex coronary artery, 56.4% in the right coronary artery, <0.01% in the left main coronary artery, and 1.7% in saphenous vein grafts. The probability of stent fracture was significantly higher in the right coronary artery than in the left anterior descending and left circumflex lesions (p <0.01). Left main stents were less likely to fracture compared to those in all other vessels (p <0.01). The probability of stent fracture was significantly increased in overlapping stents (7.5% vs 2.1%, p = 0.01) and long stents (46 vs 32.5 mm, p <0.01). Lesions with stent fractures had higher rates of ISR (38% vs 8.2%, p <0.01) and TLR (17% vs 5.6%, p <0.01). Conversely, the probability of stent fractures was higher in patients with ISR (12.8% vs 2.1%, p <0.01) and TLR (8.8% vs 2.7%, p <0.01). In conclusion, although not always associated with clinical sequelae, the probability of ISR and TLR is increased with stent fracture. Conversely, the probability of stent fractures is increased in lesions with ISR or TLR, thus raising the need for surveillance and management guidelines for at-risk patients.