Conservative versus surgical treatment for acute sprain of the lateral ligament of the ankle grade III

Thirty-four patients [34 ankles] with acute injuries of the lateral ligament of the ankle [grade III] within 48 hours were treated by two different lines of treatment. Group A [14 patients] was treated by a primary surgical repair of the torn ligament, followed by below knee cast for four weeks and Group B [20 patients] was treated by applying an immediate below knee walking cast for four weeks. Both groups were subjected to physiotherapy program. The evaluation of the cases included objective and subjective data and the period of the follow up ranged from 6 to 12 months. There was no significant difference between both groups