AAOS 2025: Early Weight Bearing for Syndesmotic Injuries .
Outcomes Following Early Weight Bearing in Syndesmotic Injuries: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Thirty-nine patients with rotational ankle fractures requiring syndesmotic fixation were randomized to receive early weight bearing at 2 weeks (n=16) or delayed weight bearing at 6 weeks (n=23). The primary outcome of interest was the maintenance of syndesmotic reduction at 1 year, assessed via postoperative and 1-year CT scans. Secondary outcomes included pain scores, surgical experience (SSQ-8), AAOS Foot and Ankle scores, range of motion, and complications. Outcomes were assessed at 2 weeks and 1 year. Overall, the results of the study revealed that early weight bearing led to significantly greater dorsiflexion at 1 year but was associated with higher pain scores at the 2-week visit. There were no significant differences in syndesmotic malreduction, loss of reduction, long-term pain scores, patient-reported outcomes, arthritis development, or complications. These findings suggest that early weight bearing is a safe option following syndesmotic fixation using suture buttons.
Unlock the Full ACE Report
You have access to 4 more FREE articles this month.
Click below to unlock and view this ACE Reports
Unlock Now
Critical appraisals of the latest, high-impact randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews in orthopaedics
Access to OrthoEvidence podcast content, including collaborations with the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, interviews with internationally recognized surgeons, and roundtable discussions on orthopaedic news and topics
Subscription to The Pulse, a twice-weekly evidence-based newsletter designed to help you make better clinical decisions
Exclusive access to original content articles, including in-house systematic reviews, and articles on health research methods and hot orthopaedic topics