ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2022
Temporizing cast immobilization is a safe alternative to external fixation in ankle fracture-dislocation while posterior malleolar fragment size predicts loss of reduction: a case control study.
Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 16 citations in OpenAlex.
- Temporising external fixation reduces loss of reduction compared with plaster splinting in ankle fracture-dislocations: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery · 2026Pooled it
- Timing of Fracture Fixation in Ankle Fracture-Dislocations.Foot & ankle specialist · 2026Article
- Predicting need for and effect of external fixation in closed ankle fractures: a retrospective case-control study.Musculoskeletal surgery · 2026Article
- Radiographic Healing and Observed Complications Following Light-Cured Polymer Immobilization: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 108 Patients.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Article
- Temporary immobilization methods for closed low-energy ankle fracture-dislocations: comparative analysis of a retrospective cohort.European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie · 2024Article
- Clinical, functional and radiological outcome after osteosynthesis of ankle fractures using a specific provocation test.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2024Article
- Risk Factors for Revision of External Fixation of Unstable Ankle Injuries.Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews · 2024Article
- Calcaneal distraction vs. cast immobilization for the preoperative treatment of patients with Danis-Weber type C ankle fractures: a case-control study.Frontiers in surgery · 2024Article
- Comparing Temporary Immobilization Using Cast and External Fixator in Unimalleolar Ankle Fracture Dislocations: A Retrospective Case Series.Journal of clinical medicine · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundTo determine if temporizing cast immobilization is a safe alternative to external fixator (ex-fix) in ankle fracture-dislocations with delayed surgery or moderate soft-tissue injury, we analysed the early complications and re-dislocation rates of cast immobilization in relation to ex-fix in patients sustaining these injuries.
methodsAll skeletally mature patients with a closed ankle fracture-dislocation and a minimum 6-months follow-up treated between 2007 and 2017 were included. Baseline demographics, comorbidities, injury description, treatment history and complications were assessed.
resultsIn 160 patients (94 female; mean age 50 years) with 162 ankle fracture-dislocations, 35 underwent primary ex-fix and 127 temporizing cast immobilizations. Loss of reduction (LOR) was observed in 25 cases (19.7%) and 19 (15.0%) were converted to ex-fix. The rate of surgical site infections (ex-fix: 11.1% vs cast: 4.6%) and skin necrosis (ex-fix: 7.4% vs cast: 6.5%) did not differ significantly between groups (p = 0.122 and p = 0.825). Temporizing cast immobilization led to an on average 2.7 days earlier definite surgery and 5.0 days shorter hospitalization when compared to ex-fix (p < 0.001). Posterior malleolus fragment (PMF) size predicted LOR with ≥ 22.5% being the threshold for critical PMF-size (p < 0.001).
conclusionTemporizing cast immobilization was a safe option for those ankle fracture-dislocations in which immediate definite treatment was not possible. Those temporized in a cast underwent definite fixation earlier than those with a fix-ex and had a complication rate no worse than the ex-fix patients. PMF-size was an important predictor for LOR. Primary ex-fix seems appropriate for those with ≥ 22.5% PMF-size.
trial registrationThe study does not meet the criteria of a prospective, clinical trial. There was no registration.
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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.