When a broken foot does not show a fracture but still requires a cast, it is often because the ligaments are lax after the break, or after professional examination, the ligaments are found to be ruptured, and the patient is advised to have the cast applied in a timely manner. If not fixed in time, the ruptured ligaments may grow out of place or become lax, which in turn may lead to recurrent ankle pain. Therefore, the repair of the ruptured ligament can be affected if the cast is not applied or if it is removed by the patient after the cast is applied. However, it is not always necessary to put a cast on a broken foot, but to have it identified and confirmed by a medical professional.