Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38693286›Full record

Trial reportArchives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery2024

Effect of early weight bearing program with conventional physiotherapy on functional outcomes in surgically treated proximal tibia fracture: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Anagha Kadam, Surendra Wani, Girish Gadekar, Goutami Katage, Kapil Garg, Sanket Mungikar

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Weight Bearing Decisions After Tibial Plateau Fractures: A Literature Review Based on Clinical Perspective for Physiotherapists in India.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy · 2026
    Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Anagha KadamDepartment of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, MGM Institute of Physiotherapy, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India.
Surendra WaniDepartment of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, MGM Institute of Physiotherapy, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India. surendrawani@mgmiop.edu.in.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0579-4164
Girish GadekarDepartment of Orthopedics, MGM Medical College and Hospital, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India.
Goutami KatageDepartment of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, MGM Institute of Physiotherapy, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India.
Kapil GargDepartment of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, MGM Institute of Physiotherapy, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India.
Sanket MungikarDepartment of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, MGM Institute of Physiotherapy, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionPatients are often instructed to avoid weight bearing on the proximal tibia for 6 - 12 weeks post-surgery to avoid fracture fixation failure. However, delayed weight bearing leads to delayed mobility, causing difficulties in daily activities; problems such as pain, limited knee ROM, reduced quadriceps muscle strength, and impaired functional outcomes are reported in long-term follow-up. This study primarily aimed to evaluate the feasibility and explore the effect size. The secondary aim was to determine the effectiveness of early weight bearing along with conventional physiotherapy on functional outcomes. MATERIALS AND

methodsA single-blinded pilot randomized controlled trial with 30 participants with proximal tibia type I, II, and III fractures were included; they were randomized using computer-based software. Seven patients were lost to follow-up. Group I received early weight bearing along with conventional physiotherapy whereas Group II received restricted weight bearing along with conventional physiotherapy. Assessments were made on post-operative day 3 (POD-03), at discharge, at 6 weeks, and at 12 weeks. Radiographs were recorded immediately after the operation, at discharge, and at 12 weeks.

resultsA full-scale RCT is feasible with an effect size between 0.3 - 0.7. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was found within both groups 12 weeks post-surgery in all outcome measures; the difference was more prominent in the intervention group. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was found between both the groups post-12 weeks in all outcome measures except quadriceps isometric muscle strength.

conclusionA full-scale RCT for early weight bearing along with conventional physiotherapy for patients operated for Type I, II, and III proximal tibia fracture is feasible. Early weight bearing along with conventional physiotherapy could have a positive effect on reducing patient's pain perception and increasing knee joint mobility, quadriceps isometric muscle strength, knee function, and quality of life without any adverse effects.

trial registrationClinicalTrialsRegistry.gov (CTRI/2022/10/046797).

Indexed as

Physical Therapy ModalitiesTibial FracturesWeight-BearingAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedMuscle StrengthPilot ProjectsSingle-Blind MethodTreatment OutcomeEarly weight bearingPhysiotherapyProximal tibiaRehabilitationTibial plateau

Identifiers

PMID38693286

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.