Early mobilisation versus immobilisation of surgically treated ankle fractures. Prospective randomised control trial

In a randomised prospective controlled trial of 52 patients aged 16 to 65 w e compared early non-weightbearing ankle mobilisation with ankle immobilisa tion following surgical treatment of bimalleolar ankle fractures. At 3 mont hs there was no significant difference between the two groups in the range of ankle movements or pain. There was however a significant difference in t he gait pattern with a higher proportion of cases in the early ankle mobili sation group having a symmetrical gait (P = 0.0001). (C) 1999 Elsevier Scie nce Ltd. All rights reserved.