Ankle Motion and Offloading in Short Leg Cast and Low and High Fracture Boots.
Recommended Citation
Nahm N, Bey MJ, Liu S, and Guthrie ST. Ankle Motion and Offloading in Short Leg Cast and Low and High Fracture Boots. Foot Ankle Int 2019.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-18-2019
Publication Title
Foot & ankle international / American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society [and] Swiss Foot and Ankle Society
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Short leg casts (SLCs) and fracture boots are used to treat foot and ankle injuries, but the decision to use one device over the other is often subjective. This study compared the impact of SLCs and low and high fracture boots on ankle motion and offloading.
METHODS: Twenty healthy adults were prospectively studied. High-speed dynamic radiography was utilized to determine tibiotalar range of motion in the sagittal plane during nonweightbearing (NWB) and weightbearing (WB) gait in a shoe (control), SLC, and low and high fracture boots. Sensors captured peak plantar surface forces to determine ankle offloading.
RESULTS: In NWB, the low fracture boot (2.2 ± 2.0 degrees), high fracture boot (2.3 ± 1.6 degrees), and SLC (2.3 ± 1.5 degrees) had significantly less motion compared with the control (3.6 ± 2.1 degrees;
CONCLUSION: The SLC and high fracture boot immobilized the ankle in NWB and offloaded and immobilized the ankle in WB. The low fracture boot also immobilized the ankle in NWB, but in WB, the low fracture boot only offloaded the ankle and did not immobilize it.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The low fracture boot may be more suited for NWB or possibly immobilizing the foot in WB.
PubMed ID
31423825
ePublication
ePub ahead of print
