External rotational injury of tha ankle joint with displacement of the talus

The mechanism of second-degree external rotational injury of the ankle, with fracture of the lower end of the fibula, is discussed with reference to experiments on an anatomical model. It is concluded that with this type of injury there is lateral displacement of the talus because the deltoid ligament is ruptured, but there is no diastasis of the inferior tibiofibular syndesmosis. The results of conservative treatment of 10 patients with second-degree external rotational injury of tha ankle are reviewed.