Your ankle serves a critical role in helping you stand and walk. Without good ankle function, you won’t be able to do a lot of things, such as doing chores around the house, going out for a run, or even traveling to and from work. If you’ve sprained your ankle and think you can treat it with a little self-care, think again. By not having it checked out by a medical professional, you could be at risk of developing chronic ankle instability.
People who have sprained their ankles more than once are at a high risk of developing ankle instability. With every sprained ankle, your ankle joint becomes more unstable. Unstable ankle joints are more prone to future sprains and other injuries. Other reasons why you may develop ankle instability are mechanical problems such as hindfoot varus and midfoot cavus (also known as high arches) and loose ligaments as a result of a medical condition called Ehlers-Danlos.
Surgery for Chronic Ankle Instability
One effective way to fix an unstable ankle is through surgery. Diagnosing ankle instability involves a physical examination, a detailed understanding of your medical history and symptoms, and imaging tests to see inside the ankle. Surgical intervention for chronic ankle instability is usually in the form of lateral ankle ligament reconstruction surgery.
Lateral Ankle Ligament Reconstruction Surgery
Lateral ankle ligament reconstruction is a surgery that tightens the ankle’s ligaments located on the outer side of the leg. Ligaments are strong band-like tissue that tightly connects the bones in your ankle and give it stability. The ligaments in the ankle include the anterior talofibular ligament and the calcaneofibular ligament. These ligaments are responsible for keeping your ankle and foot stable when you walk. Depending on the damage in your ankle, this surgery can address one or both of these ligaments.
To perform the surgery, your surgeon will make a small incision on the outside of the ankle and tighten the affected ligament that has become too loose or stretched as a result of frequently sprained ankles or another condition affecting the ligament.
Lateral ankle ligament reconstruction surgery is an outpatient procedure, which means you can return home after your procedure. It can take several weeks for your ankle to heal, and you will be required to do physical therapy to help in the healing process.
Chronic Ankle Instability Diagnosis and Treatment
Since 2003, The Podiatry Group of South Texas has been providing the highest quality of foot and ankle care to patients. We treat a broad range of conditions that affect the foot and ankle such as bunions, heel pain, diabetic foot conditions, sports injuries, and foot and ankle injuries, including chronic ankle instability.
We treat all types of conditions using nonsurgical and surgical treatments so that you get the best results possible. If you are interested in getting a diagnosis and treatment for your foot or ankle injury or condition, give us a call today to set up an appointment with one of our qualified podiatrists. Make an appointment by giving us a call at our location most convenient to you. You can also request an appointment online.
