[Comparative study between conservative and surgical therapy of fibular ligament ruptures of the upper ankle joint]

From January 1985 to February 1987 361 patients with ruptured lateral ankle ligaments were treated at the Department of Trauma and reconstructive Surgery at the University Hospital of Hamburg. 225 patients were included in a retrospective study. They were divided into conservative and operative groups of treatment with subdivision of immobilized treatment (Plaster Paris short-leg-cast for 6 weeks) and functional therapy (special shoe). Clinical-radiological follow-up examinations of 49 operatively and 44 conservative treated patients were carried out 2 to 4 years after cessation of therapy. The clinical results were evaluated according to a questionnaire, X-ray and clinical controls. These results lead to the conclusion that operative treatment combined with conservative plaster cast immobilization yielded better mechanical stability than conservative-functional therapy. Best results were seen after surgical treatment, but conservative immobilization with prevailing good clinical-radiological results seems to be an alternative to operative therapy in carefully elected patients.