Instability

The ligaments supporting the ankle bones can become slack after repeated injury. When the ankle is violently twisted or forced beyond its normal range of movement, these ligaments can easily become stretched or torn.

What is it?

The ankle is held together by ligaments. The lateral ligaments stop the ankle sliding forward and rolling from side to side. They are attached to the fibula (the thin bone that runs next to the shinbone), the talus (the anklebone) and the calcaneus (the heelbone).

When the ankle is violently twisted or forced beyond its normal range of movement, these ligaments can easily become stretched or torn. This is known as a sprain.

If your ankle doesn’t heal properly after a sprain, or you sprain your ankle repeatedly, you may end up with chronic ankle instability. The resultant constant swelling in the ankle can cause a reflex in the body that ‘switches off’ the muscles around the joint, which reduces the stability even more.

How does it feel?

The sensation that your ankle is going to give way, especially on uneven ground. Your ankle will frequently turn during activity, causing pain, inflammation and swelling. You may have almost constant swelling in the ankle.

Diagnosis

An x-ray will rule out a fracture of the ankle bones. Putting stress directly on the ankle ligaments ascertains if the ankle has become unstable; it can also help to show if a ligament has been torn.

Surgery

During arthroscopic or minimally invasive surgery, the damaged and stretched ligaments are repaired and stitched back on themselves to restore them to their normal strength and thickness.

Recovery

You will be able to put weight on the foot almost immediately after the operation. You will be given a splint (aircast boot) to wear for three weeks, after which time you will be having physiotherapy twice a week. You should expect full recovery about six weeks after your surgery.

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