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Evidence summaries

Rehabilitation for Ankle Fractures in Adults

Using a removable type of immobilisation and exercise during the immobilisation period may reduce activity limitation and pain and improve ankle range of motion after the treatment period and in the long term for people after surgical fixation for ankle fracture. Level of evidence: "C"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 31 studies with a total of 1 521 subjects. After surgical fixation, commencing exercise in a removable brace or splint significantly improved activity limitation, pain and ankle range of motion, but also led to a higher rate of adverse events. Early commencement of weight-bearing during the immobilisation period improved ankle range of motion after surgical fixation. Where it was possible to avoid ankle range of motion after surgical fixation, the use of no immobilisation compared to cast immobilisation also improved ankle range of motion. After the immobilisation period, manual therapy was beneficial in increasing ankle range of motion. There was no evidence of effect for electrotherapy, hypnosis, or stretching.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by imprecise results (limited study size for each comparison) and by inconsistency (heterogeneity in interventions and outcomes).

    References

    • Lin CWC, Moseley AM, Refshauge KM. Rehabilitation for ankle fractures in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;(3):CD005595.

Primary/Secondary Keywords