Ligaments connect adjacent bones in a joint and provide stability to the joint. A sprain is stretching or tearing of a ligament. An ankle sprain is a common injury and occurs with falling or suddenly twisting the ankle joint. It can also happen when the foot lands in an awkward or unusual position. It commonly occurs in sports participation.
Ankle sprains can cause pain, swelling, tenderness, bruising, and stiffness, numbness in the toes, and inability to walk or bear weight on the ankle. Inadequate healing of a sprained ligament or incomplete rehabilitation of the affected ligament can result in instability of the ankle.
Acute injuries can be managed with conservative treatment measures such as RICE method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation), medications, bracing, and physical therapy.
Surgical intervention to reconstruct the injured ligament may be considered in patients with a high degree of instability and in those who have failed to respond to non-surgical treatments.
Ankle ligament reconstruction may be performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon will make small incisions in the ankle. Stretched or torn ligaments will be shortened and stitched as needed. Sometimes, a weakened ligament is reconstructed with a section of tendon derived from the foot and around the ankle. When there is severe tissue loss, allograft tendon can also be used to reconstruct the native ligaments. Anchor or small absorbable screws may be used +/- an internal brace to augment the strength of the repair and improve speed of recovery.
The recovery time after ankle ligament reconstruction depends on the extent of injury and the procedure performed. For the first few weeks after surgery, you will be instructed to use crutches or a wheelchair and avoid bearing any weight on the reconstructed ankle joint.
Specific complications of ankle ligament reconstruction include infection, nerve damage, ankle joint stiffness, and recurrent instability.