Impact of timing of surgery on wound complications and re-operations following closed ankle fracture fixation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

There is low quality evidence from three of nine studies suggesting that earlier fixation is associated with relatively reduced wound complications, but most studies showed no difference. No association was observed with unplanned reoperation. A large, prospective trial powered to wound complications is required to clarify causality. An RCT powered to investigate these outcomes is required to clarify causality.