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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2020 Aug;34(8):1040-1047.
doi: 10.1177/0269215520929727. Epub 2020 Jun 11.

Compared to conventional physiotherapy, does the use of an ankle trainer device after Weber B ankle fracture operation improve outcome and shorten hospital stay? A randomized controlled trial

Marius Molund  1 , Jan Hellesnes  2 , Gøran Berdal  2 , Bernt Stray Andreassen  2 , Geir Stray Andreassen  2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Compared to conventional physiotherapy, does the use of an ankle trainer device after Weber B ankle fracture operation improve outcome and shorten hospital stay? A randomized controlled trial

Marius Molund et al. Clin Rehabil. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: To compare the functional outcomes and length of hospital stay for patients treated with conventional physiotherapy compared to a new ankle trainer device after Weber B ankle fractures.

Design: The patients were randomized, and then followed up at 3, 6, 12 and 52 weeks by a blinded physiotherapist.

Setting: This study was done at a level 1 trauma centre.

Subjects: One hundred and forty consecutive patients with Weber B ankle fractures that were operated on were screened for eligibility, of whom 113 were included in the study.

Interventions: Conventional physiotherapy with stretching exercises, using a non-elastic band or using new ankle trainer.

Main measures: Outcomes were evaluated with Olerud-Molander ankle score, Visual analogue scale for pain and ankle dorsiflexion at 3, 6, 12 and 52 weeks follow-up. Time of hospitalization and complications were registered.

Results: Superior Olerud-Molander ankle scores were observed at three weeks follow-up in the ankle trainer group 40.9 (10.8), compared to the conventional group 35.3 (14.2) (P = 0.021). At one-year follow-up, there was no difference between the groups (P = 0.386). The ankle trainer group had a shorter hospital stay with a mean 2.6 days (0.98) compared to 3.2 days (1.47) in the conventional group (P = 0.026).

Conclusion: The patients who were treated with the new ankle trainer device recovered more rapidly, evaluated by the Olerud-Molander ankle score and had a shorter stay in hospital compared to the conventional physiotherapy group. No between group differences could be observed at long-term follow-up.

Keywords: Ankle injury; foot and ankle; orthopaedic outcomes; passive movement device; stretching.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.

Figures

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Figure 1.
Flowchart.
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References

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