TREATMENT OF ANKLE SPRAIN: OBSERVATIONS IN MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED CASES

Ankle sprains may cause much disability, and often do, in military, industrial and other activities. Observations on various types of treatment in over 500 cases closely studied are presented. More than 200 of the patients were treated with injection of procaine hydrochloride solution and over 200 were strapped with adhesive tape. Sixty-eight received either no treatment or cold and hot packs or an elastic bandage for support. The patients treated were men in active military service mostly in the late teens and twenties, although some were in the fourth, fifth and sixth decades. Eight women were treated. All degrees of sprain from minor to severe were seen, but in each case the condition was sufficient to cause the man to seek relief either immediately or within the first day or so. The most common ligament sprained was the anterior talofibular, which occurred in over 90 per cent. Other ligaments in