[Plastic repair of the lateral ligament of the upper ankle joint: methods and results (author's transl)].

A review is given about common techniques for plastic repair of the lateral ligament of the upper ankle joint. Own experiences are presented. Indications for plastic repair age: old injury of the ligaments with clinical symptoms; fresh lesions of the ligament; if the tissues of the articular capsule or of the ligament are completely destroyed or if during surgery a chronic insufficiency of the ligaments becomes evident. Contraindications against plastic repair are: a marked arthrosis of the ankle joint, a permanent valgar displacement of the talus, old age and a high risk for surgery. The results of 13 plastic operations of the lateral ligament could be classified as "very good" in ten cases and as "good" in three cases (evaluation according to Marti). In seven cases a modified technique of Watson-Jones has been used, twice Weber's method and in four cases a direct ligament plastic. Those procedures are favoured which come close to the original anatomy, are easy to perform without destroying functional structures and which do not cause an unnecessary restriction of movement.