• ankle sprain
• treatment
• diagnosis
• physical examination

Inversion injuries of the ankle ligament are among the most common injuries, accounting for about 25% of all injuries to the musculoskeletal system. The most commonly injured part of the lateral ligament complex is the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL). Although ruptures of the ankle ligaments are very common, treatment selection remains controversial. In a recent systematic review of the available literature, it was found that treatment of an acute lateral ligament rupture that was too short in duration or that did not include sufficient support of the ankle joint tended to result in more residual symptoms. It was concluded that a “no treatment” strategy for acute ruptures of the lateral ankle ligament leads to more residual symptoms.¹ After a supination trauma, it is therefore important to distinguish a simple distortion from an acute grade II or III ankle ligament rupture, because adequate treatment is associated with a better prognosis.

Although ruptures of the ankle ligament are very common, treatment selection remains controversial.

Because of the suspected poor reliability of physical diagnosis of ligament ruptures after inversion trauma of the ankle, stress …