A ligament rupture is found in some 60% of patients with ankle distortion. The rupture usually involves the anterior talofibular ligament, and there may be associated ruptures of other ankle ligaments. Clinical findings and conventional radiological examination (including stress exposures) are insufficiently reliable for demonstration or exclusion of a ligament lesion. Ankle arthography is a relatively simple method of investigation; interpretation of the images obtained is generally no problem. Surgical exploration has nearly always confirmed the arthrographic diagnosis 'ligament lesion'.