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A brand new examine from the College of Missouri College of Medication suggests placing weight on an ankle—often known as weight bearing—inside three weeks of recovering from a surgically repaired fracture is protected.
There are not any set pointers to comply with on when sufferers can begin placing weight on fractured ankle bones, and previous analysis had conflicting outcomes. MU researchers carried out their very own examine, evaluating the outcomes of 233 sufferers and sorted them into teams based mostly on how lengthy they had been non-weight bearing. They discovered nothing suggesting the chance of problems is larger in sufferers who bear weight early.
“The point of this study was to examine if early weight bearing after an ankle fracture was safe,” examine writer Dr. Kyle Schweser stated. “Early weight bearing can help speed up a patient’s recovery by preventing muscle deconditioning, improving joint range of motion and allowing an earlier return to independence.”
Proof additionally exhibits sufferers favor early weight bearing and fewer restrictions, because it will increase their independence whereas decreasing the necessity for strolling aids.
Whereas the researchers discovered no vital variations with the probabilities of problems, there are a number of potential explanations for this. Within the knowledge, sufferers with different well being circumstances had been extra prone to have delayed weight bearing, which implies greater than six weeks of relaxation.
“Because we were looking at past data, we could not correct for selection bias. A disproportionate number of patients with diabetes and neuropathy were in the delayed weight bearing group,” Schweser stated. “We can at least say that healthy patients can weight bear early, and that physicians can use discretion to be more aggressive in sicker patients.”
Sufferers with diabetes and neuropathy are normally extra prone to have problems; nonetheless, the analysis group didn’t observe this within the knowledge. Extra data is required earlier than definitively saying whether or not early weight bearing is protected in high-risk populations, however that is one thing that may be explored in future analysis.
“Clinically, at MU Health Care, we recommend early weight bearing for all patients with ankle fractures, except for those with certain conditions,” Schweser stated. “Patients are typically very happy to walk earlier and begin the process of returning to normalcy. Most patients stop using crutches and other aids quickly and are more satisfied with their care.”
Dr. Kyle Schweser is an orthopaedic trauma surgeon and the Division Chief of Foot and Ankle at MU Well being Care. He’s additionally an assistant professor of orthopaedic surgical procedure on the MU College of Medication.
The examine, “Early weight bearing is not associated with short-term complications in ankle fractures,” was just lately printed within the Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgical procedure.
Extra data:
Warren G. Haralson et al, Early weight bearing is just not related to short-term problems in ankle fractures, The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgical procedure (2025). DOI: 10.1053/j.jfas.2025.01.008
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Wholesome sufferers can put weight on ankles lower than three weeks after surgical intervention, examine finds (2025, February 26)
retrieved 26 February 2025
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