Is Hardware Removal Recommended after Ankle Fracture Repair?

Table 3

Changes in ankle function reported by 78 patients with fractures of the ankle or distal tibia () after hardware removal.

Outcome	Change in function after hardware removal
	Better	No change	Worse
	(%)	(%)	(%)
Ankle stiffness	58 (72.5)	14 (17.5)	8 (10.0)
Walking on uneven ground	66 (82.5)	12 (15.0)	2 (2.5)
Discomfort on walking up the stairs	65 (81.3)	13 (16.3)	2 (2.5)
Discomfort when squatting	64 (80.0)	11 (13.8)	5 (6.3)
Discomfort at physical exercise (e.g., jogging, basketball, and hiking)	61 (76.3)	12 (15.0)	7 (8.8)