Objective: To compare the Robert Jones bandage with the "U" splint in edema control of ankle fractures.
Material and methods: A prospective, longitudinal study, open, comparative and randomized made in 32 male patients (72%) and 16 female patients (28%), the average age was 36.9 years. Patients with an ankle fracture within 12 hours of evolution were registered. Both ankles previous to immobilization were measured, dividing the patients in 2 groups. Group 1 were treated with Robert Jones Bandage, and group 2 with "U" splint. The pain previous to immobilization was registered using an analogous visual scale. Twenty-four hours later the circumference and the pain was measured again.
Results: Group 1 displayed less edema, mean 17.69 mm, in comparison with group 2, of 8.33 mm (p < or = 0.36). Pain previous to immobilization in group 1 was a mean of 7 and in group 2 of 5.5 (p < or = 0.3); 24 hours later, a mean of 2 in both (p < or = 0.8).
Conclusions: There were no significant differences between both immobilization methods.