[Functional treatment of fresh outer ligament ruptures using an Aircast splint]

Functional treatment with an Aircast splint can reduce pathological inversion of the ankle joint. Now that we have used the splint since 1981, we report our experience with a small group of patient who have been reviewed three times in the last 4 years. The patients reported good-to-excellent results. Objective evaluation was slightly better in the first follow up evaluation with increased laxness in the stress tests in the last control. However only one patient needed ligament reconstruction. The Aircast splint provides good-to-excellent subjective results and good objective results in 75% of cases. The following indications are valid for operative treatment: Laxity with a talar tilt of definitely more than 15 degrees, or with an anterior drawer of the talus of more than 12 mm in a young athlete who is dependent on complete stability. Patients with osteochondral lesions and avulsed fibular fragments. History of pre-existing recurrent subluxations, possibly in combination with a ligament reconstruction.