title: Comparative study of functional bracing and plaster cast treatment of stable lateral malleolar fractures.
abstract: In a prospective, randomized study, the use of the Aircast pneumatic air stirrup was compared with a standard below-knee walking cast in the management of Lauge-Hansen supination-eversion, stage II ankle fractures. Forty patients were randomly allocated to the two treatment groups. The use of the air stirrup led to a significant improvement in early patient comfort, post-fracture swelling, range of ankle motion at union, and time to full rehabilitation. We advocate the use of pneumatic air stirrup in the cost-effective management of stable ankle fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brumby
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D016512:Ankle Injuries; D001915:Braces; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D013997:Time Factors