ArticleEuropean journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie2024
Safety of early weightbearing after ankle fracture fixation.
Article in European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- 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
- Immediate full weightbearing with additive cerclage improves early mobility after tibial shaft spiral fractures.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Utility of Weight-Bearing Computed Tomography in the Postoperative Assessment of Ankle Fractures.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposePatients with surgically treated ankle fractures are traditionally kept non-weightbearing for at least six weeks post-operatively; however, recent literature suggests numerous benefits of early weightbearing (EWB) before six weeks without significantly impacting long-term outcomes. This study aims to review the safety of early vs late weightbearing following ankle fracture fixation by assessing the complication rate.
methodsThis was a single-centre retrospective study. Between 2020 and 2023, all ankle fixations that commenced weightbearing at two weeks were added to the EWB group. An equal number of similar patients with six-week non-weightbearing were added to the late weightbearing (LWB) group. Baseline characteristics, risk factors, types of fractures and any complications in the six-month post-operative period were evaluated from these cohorts.
resultsIn total, 459 ankle fixations were identified of which 87 patients met the criteria for the EWB group, with a further 87 added to the LWB group. There was no significant difference in age between the two groups (51.7 ± 20.1 vs 51.0 ± 15.5, respectively; p = 0.81), but more female patients and diabetics in the EWB group. Fracture types were similar between both cohorts (p = 0.51). Complication rate in the EWB group was not significantly different to the LWB group (5 vs 9, p > 0.05).
conclusionNo increase in complication rate was identified by commencing weightbearing early at two weeks after ankle fixation compared to six weeks. We therefore suggest EWB if appropriate, given its associated benefits including restoration of patient independence and improved quality of life. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, Level IV.
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