Below-knee cast and Aircast brace improved ankle function at 3 months in acute severe ankle sprain

In patients with acute severe ankle sprain, are mechanical supports more effective than double-layer tubular compression bandages (Tubigrip) for enhancing recovery? ### Design: randomised controlled trial. ### Allocation: concealed. ### Blinding: blinded (outcome assessors). ### Follow-up period: 1, 3, and 9 months. ### Setting: 8 emergency departments in the UK. ### Patients: 584 patients >16 years of age (mean age 30 y, 58% men) who were unable to bear weight for ⩾3 days after sprain. Exclusion criteria were contraindications to immobilisation, injury date >7 days ago, or recent fracture (except flake fracture <3 mm). ### Intervention: below-knee cast (n = 142), Aircast brace (n = 149), Bledsoe boot (n = 149), or Tubigrip (n = 144). Before randomisation, ankles were elevated and immobilised with tubular compression bandages for 2–3 days to …