The influence of dorsiflexion in the treatment of severe ankle sprains: an anatomical study.

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 ankle. 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 ankle varied from 5 degrees to 15 degrees. These studies suggest that positioning the ankle in dorsiflexion instead of neutral or plantar flexion may have advantages in promoting a stable ankle if immobilization is chosen for treating a grade III sprain.