Aim: Postoperative treatment following osteosynthesis of ankle fractures in a flexible arthrodesis boot (Variostabil) aims at fast restoration of the function of the injured extremity while allowing early full weight bearing. This treatment regimen was validated in a clinical and experimental study.
Methods: (1) In the clinical study part, 56 patients with internally fixed ankle fractures received after treatment with the arthrodesis boot for 6 weeks. (2) In the experimental study part, the intravascular pressure was recorded in a foot vein of 8 healthy volunteers during knee bends.
Results: (1) No implant failure or secondary dislocation was seen due to the after treatment. All patients rated subjective comfort and mobility as excellent. 90.5 % had a good to excellent functional result with the Philips Score. (2) Wearing the arthrodesis boot effected significantly faster venous outflow (25.8 +/- 15.2 vs. 11.3 +/- 6.0 mmHg/sec, p < 0.05) and higher pressure amplitude (53.6 +/- 12.0 vs. 26.5 +/- 9.6 mmHg) during knee bends, compared to a below-the-knee plaster cast.
Conclusions: The flexible arthrodesis boot offers safe protection of ankle fractures combined with superior functional performance (undisturbed gait, training of the ankle joint, high patient comfort and mobility, accelerated venous outflow) as compared to cast immobilization.