Aim To evaluate the comparative effects of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 ( SGLT2) inhibitors on risk of bone fracture in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus ( T2DM). Methods PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL and were systematically searched from inception to 27 January 2016 to identify randomized controlled trials ( RCTs) reporting the outcome of fracture in patients with T2DM treated with SGLT2 inhibitors. Pairwise and network meta-analyses, as well as a cumulative meta-analysis, were performed to calculate odds ratios ( ORs) and 95% confidence intervals ( CIs). Results A total of 38 eligible RCTs (10 canagliflozin, 15 dapagliflozin and 13 empagliflozin) involving 30 384 patients, with follow-ups ranging from 24 to 160 weeks, were included. The fracture event rates were 1.59% in the SGLT2 inhibitor groups and 1.56% in the control groups. The incidence of fracture events was similar among these three SGLT2 inhibitor groups. Compared with placebo, canagliflozin ( OR 1.15; 95% CI 0.71-1.88), dapagliflozin ( OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.37-1.25) and empagliflozin ( OR 0.93; 95% CI 0.74-1.18) were not significantly associated with an increased risk of fracture. Our cumulative meta-analysis indicated the robustness of the null findings with regard to SGLT2 inhibitors. Conclusions Our meta-analysis based on available RCT data does not support the harmful effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on fractures, although future safety monitoring from RCTs and real-world data with detailed information on bone health is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]