Below-knee cast and Aircast brace improved ankle function at 3 months in acute severe ankle sprain
Question
In patients with acute severe ankle sprain, are mechanical supports more effective than double-layer tubular compression bandages (Tubigrip) for enhancing recovery?
Methods
Design:
randomised controlled trial.
Allocation:
concealed.
Blinding:
blinded (outcome assessors).
Follow-up period:
1, 3, and 9 months.
Setting:
8 emergency departments in the UK.
Patients:
584 patients >16 years of age (mean age 30 y, 58% men) who were unable to bear weight for ⩾3 days after sprain. Exclusion criteria were contraindications to immobilisation, injury date >7 days ago, or recent fracture (except flake fracture <3 mm).
Intervention:
below-knee cast (n = 142), Aircast brace (n = 149), Bledsoe boot (n = 149), or Tubigrip (n = 144). Before randomisation, ankles were elevated and immobilised with tubular compression bandages for 2–3 days to …
