Ankle Stabilisation
What Is Ankle Instability?
Ankle instability or giving way can be a frustrating injury. It results from repeated ankle sprains or twisting injuries that lead to chronic stretching of key stabilising ligaments around the ankle. Commonly involved ligaments include the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) and the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL), on the outer aspect of the ankle. The resultant laxity in these ligaments means the ankle ligaments can no longer properly stabilise the ankle joint through functional or sporting activities, manifesting in symptoms like pain and/or giving way.
Longer-term sequelae of ankle instability include ankle cartilage injuries and osteoarthritis from the repeated injuries.
Treatment of Ankle Instability
The majority of ankle sprains and twisting injuries respond well to non-operative management with early mobilisation, weight-bearing and rehabilitation once the acute pain has improved sufficiently to allow this. Rehabilitation with a physiotherapist can help patients with a severe or repeated injury get back to their functional goals. Ankle bracing and taping may also lead to sufficient stability to allow function in certain cases.
Surgical treatment of ankle instability is indicated when symptoms persist after the above non-surgical treatments have been utilised. Surgical management of ankle instability usually consists of a combination of:
- Ankle Arthroscopy: to diagnose and treat any concurrent ankle syndesmosis injuries or ankle cartilage/OCD lesions as a result of the instability
- Ankle ligament repair and/or reconstruction: to tighten the stretched ankle ligaments on the outside of your ankle (Brostrom procedure). An Internal Brace (a band of strong sutures) may also be placed across the tightened ankle ligaments for extra protection of the repair during the rehabilitation phase. In certain complex cases (patients with previous surgical stabilisation or ligamentous laxity), a reconstruction of the ligaments with tendon grafts may be required.
Your surgeon will discuss the individualised treatment approach to your circumstances at the time of your initial consultation.
