The treatment of lateral ankle ligament tears has been by conservative and by operative means. 483 patients treated by a number of orthopaedic surgeons, general surgeons and trauma surgeons in Germany over a 2 1/2 year period were questioned one year after the injury. Treatment had been conservatively in 325 patients (tape bandage, elastic bandage, plaster cast, ankle brace, Aircast brace, others) and operatively in 158 patients (primary ligament repair, ligament reconstruction). A 100 point subjective ankle score was used for the 420 patients who responded. The mean score was 90.5 points. The average score of all patients undergoing surgery was 88.2 points, the mean score of all conservatively treated patients was 91.7 points. However, instability on stress radiographs after the injury was less in the conservative group. There was no clear correlation between the initial radiographic instability and the follow-up result. Young patients did better than older patients. The authors recommend conservative, early functional treatment for lateral ankle ligament tears.