Sprained Ankle Ligament Surgery & Treatment
The ankle joint is stabilised by several ligaments like the Anterior
Talofibular Ligament (ATFL) and the Calcaneofibular Ligaments (CFL). When these
ligaments are injured during sports or daily activity, they can cause an ankle
sprain.
How Are Ankle Sprains Treated?
Most of the times an ankle sprain will only need proper rest of the
joint, icing, compression and elevation to decrease the pain and swelling.
Sometimes ankle sprains can be more severe when the entire length of the
ligament is torn. Recovery from a severe ankle sprain can be lengthy, and
complications might also develop. For more serious ankle sprains,
rehabilitation and physiotherapy play a central role in recovery. Usually, the
pain subsides in less than three months with proper physiotherapy that focuses
on mobility, power and balance of the ankle joint.
If the pain and swelling persist after three months, you might be
suffering from chronic ankle joint injury which almost always requires surgery.
Reconstructive Surgery for Ankle Ligament Tears
If the pain of the ankle sprain remains even after multiple sessions of
physiotherapy, you should consider a reconstructive arthroscopic ligament
surgery. Using a camera (arthroscope), the joint ligaments are visualised and
repaired.