124 patients with lesions of the lateral collateral ligament of the ankle joint are subdivided into two groups: treated with plaster-of-Paris immobilization and operative suturing of the ligament, respectively. On follow-up examination of 111 patients 4 to 5 months after the injury, approximately four fifths of the patients in both the groups were completely free of symptoms. The remainder had certain complaints which were, however, entirely different in the two groups. Among the patients who had been treated conservatively the complaints were of looseness in the ankle joint with a tendency to twisting and pain. In the group submitted to to operation, complaints were of stiffness in the joint and alterations of sensation around the operation scar. No decisive differences were found between the results of the two methods of treatment but, as the tendency to twist the ankle is the most significant of the symptoms, operative treatment must be considered to provide the best results. Post-operative immobilization in plaster-of-Paris should be abbreviated and followed by energetic exercises. Suture of the capsule should not be too tight.

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