The influence of dorsiflexion in the treatment of severe ankle sprains

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an anatomical study. Smith-R-W. Reischl-S. Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Harbor/University of California, Los Foot-Ankle. 1988 Aug. 9(1). P 28-33. Cadaver studies were performed to examine the applicability of ankle position to the treatment of ruptured fibulocollateral ligaments. Nonembalmed cadaver specimens were studied with anterior drawer and talar tilt stresses before and after division of the ligaments to simulate the sprained [1mankle. [m Dorsiflexion completely reduced the anteriorly subluxed talus and apposed the ends of the anterior talofibular ligament in specimens with divided lateral collateral ligaments. The dorsiflexion angle required to reduce the unstable [1mankle [m varied from 5 degrees to 15 degrees. These studies suggest that positioning the ankle [m in dorsiflexion instead of neutral or plantar flexion may have advantages in promoting a stable [1mankle [m if immobilization is chosen for treating a grade III [1msprain [m.