AAOS: Early rehabilitation acceptable following fixation of unstable ankle fracture .
A randomized controlled trial of early vs. delayed weightbearing after surgical fixation of unstable ankle fractures
110 patients undergoing fixation of an unstable ankle fracture were randomized to either early weightbeaing (2 weeks postop) or delayed weightbearing (6 weeks non-weightbeaing and immobilization postop). The purpose was to compare the two protocols on rate of return to work and functional outcome. The results indicated that return to work was similar between early and delayed weightbearing at all points during follow-up. At 6 weeks, the early weightbearing group was reported to have improved outcomes in ankle range of motion and function. No cases of fixation failure, reduction loss, or re-operation were recorded, and groups were similar in complications.
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