On 49 cases (51 ankle joints) of lateral collateral ligament injury of the ankle joint treated by Gould's method, the authors performed postoperative evaluation based on replies given by individual patients to a questionnaire. Of the 49 cases, fresh ones were 11 (11 ankle joints) and old ones 38 (40 ankle joints). Male patients were 18 and the female 31. These patients were aged 12 to 59, or 22.8 years old on the average. The period of follow-up study ranged from 7 months to 6 year, or 2 years and 10 months on the average.
The pastoperative results determined through the above follow-up study were evaluated in accordance with Fujita's criteria. The results of evaluation were that of the fresh cases, 81.8% were excellent and 18.2% good while 55.0% were excellent and 45.0% good with the old cases, the entire cases being rated better than good.
The Gould's method is a highly useful operative procedure without sacrificing the tendon and limited in operative stress and yet with relatively good results.
