Table 1.

Baseline characteristics of included patients with ankle fracture

	Unprotected non-weight-bearing (n = 37)	Protected weight-bearing (n = 36)	Unprotected weight-bearing (n = 42)
Mean age in years (± SD)	37.8 (± 13.7)	41.5 (± 14.2)	37.8 (± 15.1)
Age range in years	18–65	18–62	18–65
Number of males (%)	23 (62.2%)	16 (44.4%)	22 (52.4%)
Symptomatic side right	21 (56.8%)	23 (63.9%)	18 (42.9%)
Smoking	7 (28.0%) (12 missing)	5 (22.7%) (14 missing)	9 (36.0%) (17 missing)
Cause of fracture
Fall < 3 m	0 (%)	2 (5.6%)	4 (9.5%)
Fall from scooter	0 (%)	0	2 (4.8%)
Fall from bicycle	8 (21.6%)	8 (22.2%)	8 (19.0%)
Sport	9 (24.3%)	3 (8.3%)	13 (31.0%)
Winter sports	1 (2.7%)	2 (5.6%)	1 (2.4%)
Simple inversion	17 (45.9%)	20 (55.6%)	12 (28.6%)
Other	2 (5.4%)	1 (2.8%)	2 (4.8%)
Lauge-Hansen classification
Supination external rotation type 2	14 (37.8%)	9 (25.0%)	14 (33.3%)
Supination external rotation type 3	2 (5.4%)	4 (11.1%)	0
Supination external rotation type 4	21 (56.8%)	23 (63.9%)	28 (66.7%)
Type of fixation lateral malleolus
2× screw fixation	3 (8.1%)	4 (11.1%)	7 (16.7%)
Screw fixation and neutralization plate	19 (51.4%)	22 (61.1%)	23 (54.8%)
Neutralization plate	7 (18.9%)	7 (19.4%)	6 (14.3%)
Dorsolateral buttress plate	8 (21.6%)	3 (8.3%)	6 (14.3%)
Type of fixation medial malleolus
1× screw fixation	1 (2.7%)	2 (5.6%)	1 (2.4%)
1× screw fixation and Kirschner wire	2 (5.4%)	0	4 (9.5%)
2× screw fixation	2 (5.4%)	1 (2.8%)	1 (2.4%)
Zuggertung	2 (5.4%)	1 (2.8%)	6 (14.3%)
Other	0	1 (2.8%)	0
Not applicable/no fractured medial malleolus/no fixation required	30 (81.1%)	31 (86.1%)	30 (71.4%)

No statistically significant differences were found in baseline characteristics between the three treatment groups after randomization

SD Standard deviation