Early Weight Bearing for Unstable Ankle Fractures Undergoing Operative Stabilization

The purpose of this randomized, controlled trial is to estimate the safety of early weight
bearing on post ankle surgery.

Patients who are indicated to have surgery for unstable ankle fractures by an attending
trauma physician will be consented for participation in the study. After surgery patients
will be randomized to either weight bearing as tolerated at two weeks with a cam boot or
non-weight bearing with a cam boot. Randomization will be performed by number allocation with
odd numbers in the early weight bearing group and even numbers in the non-weight bearing
group. The surgeon will be blinded to this until after the surgery. The patients will all be
placed in a short leg cast post operative and made non-weight bearing for 2 weeks until
sutures are removed which is current standard treatment. Both groups will be asked to
initiate weight bearing at two weeks post operatively by wearing a cam boot that is non
weight bearing in a cam boot, the latter being standard treatment.