Rupture of the lateral ligaments of the ankle: a controlled clinical trial.

The results of a randomized study comparing three different principles of treatment for rupture of the lateral ligaments of the ankle are presented. A total of 95 patients was treated and followed up for 17 months. In this series, 32 patients were treated with primary suture and plaster-of-Paris, 33 patients with plaster-of-Paris only and 30 patients with strapping. In all, 31 patients (97%) were completely free of symptoms in the operation group, 22 (67%) in the plaster-of-Paris group and 23 (77%) in the strapping group.