title: HOW DOES THE BRAZILIAN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS TREAT ACUTE LATERAL ANKLE SPRAIN?
abstract: Acute lateral ankle sprain (ALAS) is a common injury, but its treatment has yet to be firmly established. The purpose of this study was to investigate how Brazilian Orthopedists (including residents) manage the diagnosis, classification, treatment and complications of ALAS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multiple-choice questionnaire was developed with the aim of addressing the main aspects of the treatment of ALAS. The questionnaire was made available on the official website of the Brazilian Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology between June 15 and August 1, 2004.
  
  
  RESULTS
  444 questionnaires were included in the analysis. The results showed agreement among most of the interviewees in the following regards: 90.8% used a classification method to guide treatment of the sprain; 59% classified the ankle sprain with certainty; 63.7% used rigid immobilization in cases of totally torn ligaments; 60.6% used anti-inflammatory medication in cases of partial ligament tears; and 75.9% reported that residual pain was the most frequent complication. There was no consensus regarding the immobilization method for partial ALAS, given that immobilization and functional treatment were chosen with the same frequency (47%). There was no significant difference between the responses from residents and from orthopedists (p = 0.81).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Orthopedists and orthopedic residents in Brazil have difficulty classifying ALAS and there is no consensus about the best therapeutic option for partial ALAS.
authors.affiliation: Second-year Resident in the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Federal University of São Paulo.
authors.forename: Paulo Santoro
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Belangero
authors.affiliation: Orthopedist in the Shoulder and Elbow Sector, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Federal University of São Paulo.
authors.forename: Marcel Jun Sugawara
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tamaoki
authors.affiliation: Orthopedist in the Knee Sector, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Federal University of São Paulo.
authors.forename: Gilberto Yoshinobu
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Nakama
authors.affiliation: Former Resident in the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Federal University of São Paulo.
authors.forename: Marcus Vinicius
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Shoiti
authors.affiliation: Former Resident in the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Federal University of São Paulo.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Vick Fernandes
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: PhD. Professor in the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Federal University of São Paulo.
authors.forename: João Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Belloti
keywords: Health Evaluation; Lateral Ligament, Ankle; Sprains and Strains