Primary operative treatment of the ruptured lateral ligament of the ankle.

Experience of operative treatment of the freshly ruptured lateral ligament of the ankle at a small district hospital is presented. The material consisted of 32 young and athletic individuals. Eighteen (57%) of the cases were sports injuries. The diagnosis was confirmed by arthrography of the talocrural joint. There were no postoperative complications. The period off work was on average i 7.3 weeks and off sports 8.3 weeks.