Do we have to keep patients in a cast and prevent them from weight bearing after surgical repair of ankle fractures?

Is post-operative non-weight-bearing necessary? A pragmatic randomised multicentre trial of operatively treated ankle fracture (DoWeCAST?)

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN76410775

Enrollment

140

Registered

2019-06-30

Start date

2019-01-07

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2021-08-17

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Unstable ankle fractures Injury, Occupational Diseases, Poisoning Fractures of other parts of lower leg

Interventions

Consent: All patients admitted to the hospital with ankle fracture requiring surgical intervention get consented by the admitting NCHD for the ankle trail after providing appropriate i

some patients get consented in the day of surgery (day cases). Patient’s selection: The selection process starts in the morning of surgery at the trauma meeting, the o

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: All skeletally mature, acute ankle fractures that were treated with anatomical reduction and stable internal fixation including: 1. Isolated lateral malleolus fractures. 2. Isolated medial malleolus fractures. 3. Bi-malleolar fractures. 4.Tri-malleolar fracture. 5. Syndesmosis injuries that has been surgically fixed with either screw or tightrope. 6. Closed, grade I, or grade II open fractures.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Skeletal immaturity. 2. Grade-III open fractures. 3. Tibial plafond fractures. 4. Polytrauma. 5. Non-ambulatory status before injury. 6. Expected insufficient stable fracture fixation with standard surgical technique. 7. Pre-existent cognitive disability, inability to comply with non-weight-bearing mobilization and inability to comply with follow-up.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Ankle Olerud and Molander Score (OMAS) questionnaire is collected at each visit( 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months and 1 year).	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Ankle range of motion (plantar and dorso-flexion) is measured using goniometry at each follow-up visit. 2. Physical and mental health outcomes SF36 questionnaire are collected at each visit. 3. The time needed to return to work; patients are asked each visit if they returned to work and date of return to work is documented in the case report form. 4. Wound complication and complications related to fracture fixation and bone healing are documented at each visit.	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Ankle range of motion (plantar and dorso-flexion) is measured using goniometry at each follow-up visit. 2. Physical and mental health outcomes SF36 questionnaire are collected at each visit. 3. The time needed to return to work; patients are asked each visit if they returned to work and date of return to work is documented in the case report form. 4. Wound complication and complications related to fracture fixation and bone healing are documented at each visit.

—

Countries

Ireland

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 15, 2026