Controlled mobilization after acute ankle inversion injury

The treatment in acute grade III ankle sprains is still controversial Conservative treatment consists of immobilization in a plaster cast, or early mobilization. Controlled mobilization with a cast brace or aircast has been shown to have a beneficial effect. We have compared 14 patients with acute grade III ankle sprains treated by immobilization for three weeks in short leg walking casts to 22 age matched patients treated by con trolled mobilization with an Aircast. Walking ability was limited significantly, as was the feeling of instability in the walking cast group. 53% of the patients in the walking cast group and 14.3% in the controlled mobilization group had a positive modified Romberg test (p<0.01). 61% of the patients in the controlled mobilization group and 23% of the walking cast group returned to their initial activity level (p<0.02). The patients who were treated with an Aircast demanded less physiotherapy and returned to work earlier than the patients treated with a walking cast Treatment of patients with controlled early mobilization proved to have a beneficial effect when compared to patients treated with a walking cast.