SynthesisPloS one2015
Weight-bearing and mobilization in the postoperative care of ankle fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and cohort studies.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 3 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 48 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Immediate Unprotected Weight-Bearing and Range of Motion After Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Unstable Ankle Fractures. A Historical Control Group Comparative Study
Post Operative Ankle Splint Study - Prospective Multi Center Randomized Controlled Trial
Physical Recovery During Bracing After Ankle Fracture (Re-BAF): A Multi-Center Superiority Analysis Nested Within a Non-inferiority Randomised Controlled Trial (BAF; NCT07163091)
Who cites it
48 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 136 citations in OpenAlex.
- Early weight-bearing following surgical fixation of ankle fractures without trans-syndesmotic fixation: safety and early functional outcomes - a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2026Pooled it
- Comparative efficacy of cast immobilization versus removable braces in patients with ankle fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2025Pooled it
- Effectiveness of behavior change in rehabilitation interventions to improve functional recovery after lower limb fracture: a systematic review.Musculoskeletal surgery · 2024Pooled it
- To cast or not to cast? Postoperative care of ankle fractures: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Musculoskeletal surgery · 2024Pooled it
- Rehabilitation for ankle fractures in adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2024Pooled it
- The effect of early weight-bearing and later weight-bearing rehabilitation interventions on outcomes after ankle fracture surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.Journal of foot and ankle research · 2024Pooled it
- An overview on the treatment and outcome factors of ankle fractures in elderly men and women aged 80 and over: a systematic review.Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery · 2022Pooled it
- Operative treatment versus nonoperative treatment of Achilles tendon ruptures: systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2019Pooled it
- 3D printing technology combined with personalized plates for complex distal intra-articular fractures of the trimalleolar ankle.Scientific reports · 2023Trial
- Compared to conventional physiotherapy, does the use of an ankle trainer device after Weber B ankle fracture operation improve outcome and shorten hospital stay? A randomized controlled trial.Clinical rehabilitation · 2020Trial
- Weight-bearing or non-weight-bearing after surgical treatment of ankle fractures: a multicenter randomized controlled trial.European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2020Trial
- Early versus delayed weight-bearing after ORIF of isolated AO/OTA 44-B1 lateral malleolar fractures: a retrospective cohort study.BMC surgery · 2026Article
- Review
- Article
- An Acta Orthopaedica educational article: Weightbearing assessment to guide nonoperative treatment of lateral malleolar fractures: the paradigm change.Acta orthopaedica · 2025Review
- Effect of early weight bearing on rehabilitation in ankle fractures with syndesmotic injuries.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- CORR Insights®: Is 2-week Cast Wearing Followed by 4-week Functional Bracing Superior to 6-week Cast Immobilization After Surgery for Ankle Fractures? A 2-year Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial.Clinical orthopaedics and related research · 2025Article
- Isolated distal fibula fractures can be treated with locking screw plates with an immediate postoperative weight-bearing.Musculoskeletal surgery · 2025Article
- Base of Fifth Metatarsal Fractures: A Meta-analysis of Plate Fixation.Indian journal of orthopaedics · 2025Article
- Ankle Fracture Gait Training Through Musical Feedback: case study.JOSPT cases · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeTo determine the effectiveness and safety of interventions used for rehabilitation after open reduction and internal fixation of ankle fractures.
methodsA systematic review and meta-analysis was performed using both randomized trials and cohort studies. The effect of mobilization, weight-bearing, and unprotected weight-bearing as tolerated on postoperative recovery was compared using the Olerud Molander score, return to work/daily activities, and the rate of complications.
resultsA total of 25 articles were included. Ankle exercises resulted in earlier return to work and/or daily activities compared to immobilization (mean difference (MD) -20.76 days; 95% confidence interval (CI) -40.02 to -1.50). There was no difference in the rate of complications between exercises and immobilization (risk ratio (RR) 1.22; 95% CI 0.60 to 2.45) or between early and late weight-bearing (RR 1.26; 95%CI 0.56 to 2.85).
interpretationResults of this meta-analysis show that following ankle surgery, 1) active exercises accelerate return to work and daily activities compared to immobilization, 2) early weight-bearing tends to accelerate return to work and daily activities compared to late weight-bearing. Active exercises in combination with immediate weight-bearing may be a safe option.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.