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Elliott A. Hilsinger, MD
Cincinnati

JAMA. 1970;214(7):1326.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

The severely sprained ankle has always been a problem. Elastic bandage, cold compresses, and crutches have been the methods of choice of most emergency rooms. Rehabilitation by this method is slow, discouraging and costly.

The typical sprained ankle shows a painful and red egg-like swelling just below the lateral, (or occasionally the internal) condyle of the ankle, along with extreme tenderness and pain. It is generally the calcaneo fibular ligament which is broken (Fig 1). This area must be supported immediately, not with an elastic bandage, but with a plaster splint support (Fig 2). This support can be applied in an emergency room or a doctor's office. More extensive sprains would naturally receive more extensive splinting usually at the hands of an orthopedic surgeon. On some occasions, the internal ligaments are torn and of course, the findings and treatment require a like support, but on the opposite . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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