Weight-Bearing Versus Non-Weight-Bearing After Ankle Fracture: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Patient-Reported Outcome
Background: Ankle fractures commonly affect mobility and quality of life. Although unstable fractures typically require surgery, post-treatment protocols vary widely, including both surgical and conservative approaches. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of early weight-b...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Life |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/2/314 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850081869417152512 |
|---|---|
| author | Rafael Llombart-Blanco Gonzalo Mariscal Ibrahim Khalil Violeta Cordón María Benlloch Carlos Barrios Rafael Llombart-Ais |
| author_facet | Rafael Llombart-Blanco Gonzalo Mariscal Ibrahim Khalil Violeta Cordón María Benlloch Carlos Barrios Rafael Llombart-Ais |
| author_sort | Rafael Llombart-Blanco |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Ankle fractures commonly affect mobility and quality of life. Although unstable fractures typically require surgery, post-treatment protocols vary widely, including both surgical and conservative approaches. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of early weight-bearing after ankle fracture treatment on functional outcomes and quality of life. Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines and the PICOS strategy, we performed a meta-analysis across multiple databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library). Analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4, calculating the mean and standard mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Eleven studies (<i>n</i> = 939) showed favorable outcomes with weight-bearing. Significant functional improvements were observed at 6 weeks (MD 7.88, 95% CI 3.14–12.61), 3 months (MD 5.79, 95% CI 4.41–7.17), and 12 months (MD 4.74, 95% CI 3.01–6.46). RAND scores favored the weight-bearing group at 6 weeks (SMD 0.48, 95% CI 0.26–0.70) and 12 months (SMD 0.31, 95% CI 0.07–0.55), with no significant differences at 3 months (SMD 0.18, 95% CI −0.10–0.46). Conclusion: The outcomes obtained indicated statistically significant differences in favor of the early weight-bearing group regarding ankle function and quality of life. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6dd561f910774e028ffa278e2b59995e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj-art-6dd561f910774e028ffa278e2b59995e2025-08-20T02:44:39ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292025-02-0115231410.3390/life15020314Weight-Bearing Versus Non-Weight-Bearing After Ankle Fracture: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Patient-Reported OutcomeRafael Llombart-Blanco0Gonzalo Mariscal1Ibrahim Khalil2Violeta Cordón3María Benlloch4Carlos Barrios5Rafael Llombart-Ais6Orthopedic Surgery Department, University Clinic of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, SpainInstitute for Research on Musculoskeletal Disorders, School of Medicine, Valencia Catholic University, 46001 Valencia, SpainFaculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21526, EgyptInstitute for Research on Musculoskeletal Disorders, School of Medicine, Valencia Catholic University, 46001 Valencia, SpainDepartment of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia, 46001 Valencia, SpainInstitute for Research on Musculoskeletal Disorders, School of Medicine, Valencia Catholic University, 46001 Valencia, SpainInstitute for Research on Musculoskeletal Disorders, School of Medicine, Valencia Catholic University, 46001 Valencia, SpainBackground: Ankle fractures commonly affect mobility and quality of life. Although unstable fractures typically require surgery, post-treatment protocols vary widely, including both surgical and conservative approaches. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of early weight-bearing after ankle fracture treatment on functional outcomes and quality of life. Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines and the PICOS strategy, we performed a meta-analysis across multiple databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library). Analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4, calculating the mean and standard mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Eleven studies (<i>n</i> = 939) showed favorable outcomes with weight-bearing. Significant functional improvements were observed at 6 weeks (MD 7.88, 95% CI 3.14–12.61), 3 months (MD 5.79, 95% CI 4.41–7.17), and 12 months (MD 4.74, 95% CI 3.01–6.46). RAND scores favored the weight-bearing group at 6 weeks (SMD 0.48, 95% CI 0.26–0.70) and 12 months (SMD 0.31, 95% CI 0.07–0.55), with no significant differences at 3 months (SMD 0.18, 95% CI −0.10–0.46). Conclusion: The outcomes obtained indicated statistically significant differences in favor of the early weight-bearing group regarding ankle function and quality of life.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/2/314ankle fractureweight bearpatient-reported outcomesimmobilizationmeta-analysis |
| spellingShingle | Rafael Llombart-Blanco Gonzalo Mariscal Ibrahim Khalil Violeta Cordón María Benlloch Carlos Barrios Rafael Llombart-Ais Weight-Bearing Versus Non-Weight-Bearing After Ankle Fracture: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Patient-Reported Outcome Life ankle fracture weight bear patient-reported outcomes immobilization meta-analysis |
| title | Weight-Bearing Versus Non-Weight-Bearing After Ankle Fracture: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Patient-Reported Outcome |
| title_full | Weight-Bearing Versus Non-Weight-Bearing After Ankle Fracture: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Patient-Reported Outcome |
| title_fullStr | Weight-Bearing Versus Non-Weight-Bearing After Ankle Fracture: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Patient-Reported Outcome |
| title_full_unstemmed | Weight-Bearing Versus Non-Weight-Bearing After Ankle Fracture: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Patient-Reported Outcome |
| title_short | Weight-Bearing Versus Non-Weight-Bearing After Ankle Fracture: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Patient-Reported Outcome |
| title_sort | weight bearing versus non weight bearing after ankle fracture a systematic review and meta analysis of patient reported outcome |
| topic | ankle fracture weight bear patient-reported outcomes immobilization meta-analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/2/314 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rafaelllombartblanco weightbearingversusnonweightbearingafteranklefractureasystematicreviewandmetaanalysisofpatientreportedoutcome AT gonzalomariscal weightbearingversusnonweightbearingafteranklefractureasystematicreviewandmetaanalysisofpatientreportedoutcome AT ibrahimkhalil weightbearingversusnonweightbearingafteranklefractureasystematicreviewandmetaanalysisofpatientreportedoutcome AT violetacordon weightbearingversusnonweightbearingafteranklefractureasystematicreviewandmetaanalysisofpatientreportedoutcome AT mariabenlloch weightbearingversusnonweightbearingafteranklefractureasystematicreviewandmetaanalysisofpatientreportedoutcome AT carlosbarrios weightbearingversusnonweightbearingafteranklefractureasystematicreviewandmetaanalysisofpatientreportedoutcome AT rafaelllombartais weightbearingversusnonweightbearingafteranklefractureasystematicreviewandmetaanalysisofpatientreportedoutcome |