by Vince Vacketta, DPM A retrospective study published this month compared two techniques in 65 patients who underwent open ATFL repair. Thirty-four patients received an internal brace and began weight bearing (WB) immediately. The other 31 patients had a traditional repair and began WB in a cast two weeks after surgery. By the numbers Complications were significantly higher in the internal brace group: Five patients (14.7%) in the internal brace group developed an infection.