Treatment of Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability - A Review

Ankle sprain is a common type of sports injury that may cause chronic ankle instability in approximately20 30% of cases. Patients typically suffer from pain, recurrent ankle sprains and swelling of the ankle. In the long run, 20 30% of chronic ankle instability patients will develop ankle arthritis. To enable appropriate sufficient early treatment, a contemporary diagnosis is required, which in turn influences the choice and type of treatment option. In addition to the conservative treatment options general muscle strengthening, biofeedback and feed forward programs – with or without external supports, a variety of surgical procedures exist. According the latest consensus the conservative treatment shall be performed first, followed by ankle arthroscopy and the Broström-Gould repair in case of failure. In more complex cases with insufficient ligamentous remnants an anatomical minimal invasive procedure is the treatment of choice. The latest achievements of research like arthroscopic repair/ reconstructions or muscular simulation controlled by plantar sensors show promising results. We want to give an overview of different treatment options, possibilities and cascade to simplify the therapy.