Orthopedic surgeons frequently provide weight-bearing recommendations to guide patient recovery following lower extremity fractures. This article discusses the available literature regarding the effects of early weight bearing on fracture healing, patient compliance with weight bearing restrictions, and the effect of different weight bearing protocols following acetabular, tibial plateau, tibial plafond, ankle, and calcaneus fractures.
Keywords: Acetabular fracture; Ankle fracture; Calcaneus fracture; Lower extremity; Periarticular fracture; Tibial plafond fracture; Tibial plateau fracture; Weight bearing.
Published by Elsevier Inc.