TY - JOUR AU - Willett, Keith AU - Keene, David J. AU - Morgan, Lesley AU - Gray, Bridget AU - Handley, Robert AU - Chesser, Tim AU - Pallister, Ian AU - Tutton, Elizabeth AU - Knox, Christopher AU - Lall, Ranjit AU - Briggs, Andrew AU - Lamb, Sarah E. PY - 2014 DA - 2014/03/12 TI - Ankle Injury Management (AIM): design of a pragmatic multi-centre equivalence randomised controlled trial comparing Close Contact Casting (CCC) to Open surgical Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) in the treatment of unstable ankle fractures in patients over 60 years JO - BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders SP - 79 VL - 15 IS - 1 AB - Ankle fractures account for 9% of all fractures with a quarter of these occurring in adults over 60 years. The short term disability and long-term consequences of this injury can be considerable. Current opinion favours open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) over non-operative treatment (fracture manipulation and the application of a standard moulded cast) for older people. Both techniques are associated with complications but the limited published research indicates higher complication rates of fracture malunion (poor position at healing) with casting. The aim of this study is to compare ORIF with a modification of existing casting techniques, Close Contact Casting (CCC). We propose that CCC may offer an equivalent functional outcome to ORIF and avoid the risks associated with surgery. SN - 1471-2474 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-15-79 DO - 10.1186/1471-2474-15-79 ID - Willett2014 ER -