Surgery is oftentimes associated with major injuries like a fracture or an Achilles tendon tear, but it can also be the right option after an ankle sprain. Most people don’t assume surgery is in the cards after an ankle sprain, but for the right patient, it can be the perfect option. In today’s blog, we explain why your sprained ankle may be best treated with surgery, and how Dr. Silverman can get you back on your feet with an operation after an ankle sprain.
Ankle Sprain Surgery
An ankle sprain occurs when you put so much stress on your ankle joint that the supportive ankle ligaments on either side of your ankle are overstretched as the joint bends inwards or outwards. These ligaments suffer minor, major or even complete tearing during this process, and you’ll be dealing with some ankle discomfort in the days and weeks that follow.
Mild ankle sprains only result in microtearing in the supportive ligaments, and you can usually get back to a pre-injury level of ankle strength by protecting the area for a short period before diving into some physical therapy and range of motion exercises. Even more moderate ankle sprains can follow this trajectory, although they may need to rehab for a much longer period in order to get back to a pre-injury level of fitness.
For those who suffer a severe ankle sprain or whose moderate sprain isn’t responding well to conservative treatment, ankle sprain surgery may be the best option. You’ve suffered some significant ligament damage during your ankle sprain injury, and if these ligaments aren’t restrengthened, they will remain weak an unable to provide the necessary support to your ankle joint. This means you’ll likely develop chronic instability in the ankle, and you’ll also be at a heightened risk for subsequent sprains or similar foot injuries.
Surgery helps by artificially strengthening and shortening the affected ankle ligaments. These ligaments have been overstretched as a result of your sprain and need to get back to a tight and supportive formation, and artificially tightening the ligaments can give you a leg up during recovery. You’ll still need to progress through a rehab plan that involves many of the previously listed conservative treatments, but oftentimes this artificial reinforcement makes it much easier for patients to regain strength and confidence in their injured ankle, while also greatly reducing their risk of a subsequent injury.
During ankle sprain surgery, your surgeon will make a couple small incision on your ankles above the ligaments that are being addressed. They will then use specialized tools to navigate to the ligaments before tightening them with sutures or similar hardware. Once your surgeon is satisfied that the ligaments have been appropriately tightened, the tools will be removed and the incision sites closed. You will then be taken to a recovery room before being discharged shortly thereafter.
You will likely be non-weight bearing for a short period of time to protect the ligaments before transitioning to a walking boot. Eventually you’ll begin weeks of physical therapy, and you can get back into your normal shoes around the 6-week mark. Most patients will be back to normal activities within three months, but your specific recovery timeline may vary.