[The ankle joint fork and tarsus]

Severe soft tissue injury occurring in sprains and dislocations may lead to painful disability after plaster-immobilisation for 6-12 weeks. Therefore, primary operation is indicated for ligamentous repair, osteochondral fracture-fixation and internal K-wire stabilization of dislocations after reduction. After 1 week of immobilisation, the patient should begin active daily muscle exercises; in the 2nd week patients are mobilized with support of a dynamic, partial weight-bearing splint, allowing continued muscle exercises until weight-bearing is possible 6-8 weeks after surgery. In 23 patients undergoing operations for acute dislocations excellent results were obtained in 14 (60%) and fair results in 7 (30%), while two patients (10%) had to have legs amputated because of arterial thrombosis and vascular disease.