Splint versus no splint after ankle fracture fixation; Results from the multi-centre post-operative ankle splint trial (PAST).

Background: There is considerable variation in the rehabilitation of ankle fractures. Ankle fractures treated surgically are often immobilized or splinted in the early post-operative period, despite the lack of robust evidence supporting this intervention. Thus, this randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the anecdote that splinting reduces pain and oedema.