Lateral ankle instability – repair/ reconstruct what’s new

Lateral ankle instability is a common condition which responds well to non-surgical management. However, the chronic symptomatic instability may require surgical intervention. The acceptable and practiced procedure is the Brostom Gould modification and it has a high patient satisfaction score. However, the current understanding and newer techniques for stabilising the lateral ligament complex has resulted in arthroscopic repairs, augmentation and tendon graft reconstructions. The literature does not provide an answer to the efficacy of these new techniques but there is some preliminary information favouring some of the latest procedures. It is now accepted practise to include ankle arthroscopy as a pre repair step. Augmentation of anatomical repair is also favoured in a select group of patients. This article provides an up to date account of the newer techniques for lateral ankle stabilisation.