Comparison of three different treatments for ruptured lateral ankle ligaments.

Two hundred consecutive patients with arthrographically verified rupture of one or both of the lateral ankle ligaments were allocated to treatment with either an operation and a walking cast, walking cast alone, or strapping with an inelastic tape - all for 5 weeks. Eighty-seven percent of the patients attended follow-up after 1 year. Only 5 percent in each treatment group were unsatisfied with the result. There were no differences between the treatment groups in ankle stability or symptoms during different activities, regardless of rupture of the anterior talofibular ligament alone or combined with rupture of the calcaneofibular ligament. However, the patients treated with tape had fewer symptoms, fewer complaints when running, and more ankles recovered to the preinjury state. Therefore, in lateral ankle ligament rupture, tape bandages seem preferable.