Understanding Lateral Ankle Instability

Abstract

Lateral ankle sprain is one of the most common sports injuries both in high level and recreational athletes. The frequency of injuries increases in recent years as more sports participations grow. Untreated ankle sprain can lead to deteriorated chronic ankle instability, thus understanding the management is of most important. Surgery for ankle instability can varied from a simple non augmented repair, augmented repair using autograft/allograft/or other choices of internal bracing, and revision cases of failed primary repair. The decision of what surgery is of the surgeon learning curves. However, with a proper diagnosis, a simple non augmented repair is acceptable with high success rate. In certain population and narrow indication, surgeon need other armamentarium such as augmented reconstruction using graft or other technique to avoid failure of primary case that leads to revision. At last, the success of lateral ankle instability surgery is highly dependent on proper phases of rehabilitation period. Understanding all matter that involves in the recovery of ankle ligament repair is of most important for the best outcome of the patients.