Review of Variability in Rehabilitation Protocols after Lateral Ankle Ligament Surgery

Ankle sprains are one of the most common athletic injuries. If a patient fails to improve through conservative management, surgery is an option restore ankle stability. The purpose this study analyze and assess variability across different rehabilitation protocols for care lateral ligament repair, reconstruction, suture tape augmentation surgical patients. Using web-based search published after augmentation, total 26 were found. Inclusion criteria was post-operative (repair, or augmentation). Protocols multi-ligament surgeries non-operative excluded. A scoring rubric created inclusion, exclusion, timing such as weightbearing, range motion (ROM), immobilization with brace, single leg exercises, return running, sport (RTS). inclusion recommendations recorded along time frame that activities suggested in each protocol. analyzed. There rehab patients especially type immobilizing partial full weigh bearing, plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, eversion inversion movements exercise running. For repair none these categories had greater than 60% agreement between protocols. consistent aspects restricted ROM non-weight bearing status, where 100% Repair, Internal Brace, unspecific 86% reconstruction all recommended no immediately post operatively 78% weight either. 66% allowed operatively. Suture generally occur on quicker timeline by week 4-6 8-10 majority RTS protocols, but varied more reconstruction. highly variable did not always match up supporting literature early mobilization ankle. mostly correlated literature. Weight requires further research determine what best practice outcomes. Overall, there lack enough need standardization shown.