Surgical repair of ruptured alteral ankle ligaments

Fifty-two of 86 repaired lateral ankle ligaments were reevaluated 3 to 53 months after surgery. Ninety-eight percent were functionally stable. Mechanical stability was determined by talar tilt measurement on "stress roentgenographs". This was found to be a reliable predictor of degree of injury and postoperative symptomatology. Surgical repair in selected cases is recommended to assure mechanical and functional stability.