Abstract:[Objective] To compare the clinical consequence open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with or without deltoid ligament repair (DLR) for ankle fractures complicated with deltoid ligament injury. [Methods] A retrospective study was conducted on 102 patients who underwent ORIF for ankle fractures complicated with deltoid ligament injury from June 2020 to May 2023. According to preoperative doctor-patient communication, 54 patients received DLR during the ORIF, while other 48 patients had ORIF only without DLR. The perioperative period, follow-up and imaging data were compared between the two groups. [Results] All the 102 patients were operated on successfully. Although the DLR group consumed significantly longer operative time [(110.0±12.7) min vs (104.2±12.0) min, P=0.020] and incision length [(8.5±2.3) cm vs (6.8±1.9) cm, P<0.001] than the non-DLR group, the former proved significantly superior to the latter in terms of intraoperative X-ray fluoroscopy times [(8.0±2.0) vs (12.0±4.0) times, P<0.001], hospital stay [(13.5±3.1) days vs (17.2±2.8) days, P<0.001] and ambulation time [(14.7±4.2) days vs (20.5±4.7) days, P<0.001]. The average follow-up time was of (19.5±3.8) months, and the DLR group resumed full weight-bearing activity significantly earlier than the non-DLR group [(78.6±16.0) days vs (92.0±20.5) days, P< 0.001]. In addition, the DLR group was also significantly better than the non-DLR group in terms of AOFAS score [(93.5±5.0) vs (91.4± 5.3), P=0.042], dorsal- plantar flexion ROM [(16.0±2.5)° vs (14.5±2.4)°, P=0.003] and inversion-eversion ROM [(17.5±2.7)° vs (16.0± 2.3)°, P=0.003] at the latest follow-up. As for imaging, the DLR group was further proved significantly superior to the non-DLR group regarding fracture reduction quality, talocrural angle (TCA), medial clear space (MCS) and tibiofibular clear space (TFCS) (P<0.05). [Conclusion] Deltoid ligament repair does enhance the efficacy of ORIF and improve ankle joint function recovery for ankle fractures complicated with torn deltoid ligament.