Arthroscopic repair of chronic ankle instability

Abstract

Lateral ankle ligament sprains are some of the most common injuries encountered in the orthopedic office, occurring in an estimated 1/10,000 persons per day [1]. These injuries can be seen in as many as 40 % of all sports injuries [2]. While the majority of acute ankle sprains heal reliably with activity modification and physical therapy/ankle rehabilitation, approximately 29-42 % of patients experience chronic functional ankle instability [3]. Functional lateral instability, as introduced by Freeman et al., describes a subjective complaint of giving way in the ankle joint [4]. Tropp’s work further described this condition as motion beyond voluntary control, but not exceeding the physiologic range of motion [5]. Mechanical instability is motion beyond the normal physiologic limits of the ankle joint. This is manifested as excessive anterolateral ankle laxity.