[Clinical-functional results in patients with Weber A and B fractures with early rehabilitation and early weight bearing protected with circular appliance immobilization].

Introduction: the post-surgical management of ankle fractures is still controversial, and there is no consensus on which rehabilitation regimen should be included as the best. The objective of the study was to describe the clinical and functional results of post-surgical patients with A/B Weber ankle fracture managed with early rehabilitation through early support and immobilization with circular appliance immobilization.

Material And Methods: prospective observational study of patients with postoperative Weber A and B ankle fractures, who were prescribed a program of early gradual weight-bearing and protected with a circular appliance and were compared with patients who did not receive weight-bearing. At three months, claudication when walking, proprioception, mobility ranges, degree of independence (Barthel), pain (VAS) and functionality (AOFAS) were evaluated. The analysis was performed with Fisher and t-Student. Statistically significant value was p < 0.05.

Results: sixty-two patients with a mean age of 39.8 years were included; 11.3% had an ankle fracture type A and 88.7% had a type B ankle fracture according to the Weber classification. The weight-bearing group (group A) had greater ranges of motion than the group without weight-bearing (group B), although group A had greater pain compared to group B. In the functional assessment, group A obtained a higher score and the degree of independence was similar in both groups.

Conclusions: protected weight-bearing and early mobilization of a surgically managed ankle fracture is a faster reintegration measure compared to support deferral program.