Optimizing Ankle Fracture Outcomes with Short-Term Postoperative Immobilization

This paper aims to investigate the effect of short-term cast immobilization on the prognosis of ankle fractures.

A total of 60 patients who underwent ankle fracture surgery in our hospital from September 2021 to September 2022 were included and divided into a cast immobilization group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30). Both groups were given open reduction and internal fixation. After the operation, the immobilization group used a plaster cast bandage to fix the ankle joint of the affected side in the functional position for 2 weeks; the control group did not receive cast immobilization and was only bandaged with routine wound dressings. The visual analog scale (VAS) score, ankle joint range of motion (ROM), lower extremity deep venous thrombosis rate, and ankle joint function score were followed up in the two groups.

All patients were followed up for 6 months. The VAS scores of the cast immobilization group were lower than the control group at 1, 3 and 7 days post-operation (p < 0.05). At 1, 2 and 3 months post-operation, the dorsiflexion ROM of the ankle joint in the cast immobilization group was larger than control group (p < 0.05). The ankle plantarflexion ROM at postoperative 1 and 2 months were larger than the control group (p < 0.05). The AOFAS of cast immobilization group was larger than the control group at 3 months post-operation (p = 0.002). The postoperative deep venous thrombosis rate was 1/30 (3.3%) in the cast immobilization group and 3/30 (10%) in the control group (p = 0.605).

Short-term cast immobilization after ankle fracture surgery can significantly reduce postoperative pain in the early stage, without increasing the recovery and the incidence of deep venous thrombosis.