Outcome of Rehabilitation Following Internally Fixed Ankle Fractures

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of variations in practice, ranging from early functional rehabilitation to complete immobilsation in post operative patients with ankle fixation following fractures. The primary goal of any post-operative regimen is to attain full weight-bearing and as close to pre-injury levels of activity as soon as possible. We seek to establish the effect on (1) functional outcome, (2) complication rates and (3) time to return to work of three different approaches to rehabilitation after ankle fracture fixation in order to produce a standardised, evidence-based guideline for our unit. We also aim to perform a cost analysis for each approach.