Lateral ankle sprains. Part II: Acute and chronic treatment.

This paper reviews the treatment alternatives for acute and chronic lateral ankle ligament sprains. Inadequately treated ankle sprains can result in chronic lateral ankle instability, disabling pain, and the early onset of osteoarthritis. There are a multitude of reconstructive techniques used for chronic lateral ankle instability. Morbidity associated with present techniques includes loss of proprioception, stiffness following cast immobilization, loss of subtalar motion, loss of internal rotation of the talus during ankle plantar flexion, and recurrent instability. In addition, this paper reviews the reconstructive techniques used for chronic lateral ankle instability, addresses the shortcomings of current reconstructive techniques, and proposes alternatives that may help decrease associated morbidity.