What is an Ankle Reconstruction?
What is Ankle Arthroscopy?
Ankle Reconstruction is a surgical procedure which aims to provide stability to the ankle. Ankle reconstruction surgery involves reconstructing the ankle ligament. This is usually achieved through retightening the lax ligaments and occasionally do need a tissue graft obtained from other ligaments and/or tendons from the foot or ankle or artificial ligaments.
Ankle Reconstruction is a surgical procedure which aims to provide stability to the ankle. Ankle reconstruction surgery involves reconstructing the ankle ligament. This is usually achieved through retightening the lax ligaments and occasionally do need a tissue graft obtained from other ligaments and/or tendons from the foot or ankle or artificial ligaments.
Ankle Reconstruction is a surgical procedure which aims to provide stability to the ankle. Ankle reconstruction surgery involves reconstructing the ankle ligament. This is usually achieved through retightening the lax ligaments and occasionally do need a tissue graft obtained from other ligaments and/or tendons from the foot or ankle or artificial ligaments.
Why do I need an ankle reconstruction?
Our specialist South Coast Orthopaedic surgeon will usually recommend an ankle reconstruction if all other non-surgical approaches have failed. Specifically, surgery may be required if your ankle has not responded to the following treatments tried for a prolonged period of time:
- Physiotherapy
- Immobilization with brace
What happens during an ankle reconstruction?
What happens during an ankle reconstruction?
- Arthroscopy (Key hole surgery)
- Ankle Ligament Reconstruction (Open surgery)
During an ankle arthroscopy procedure, our surgeon will use a small camera called an arthroscope to look inside your ankle joint. He will then use thin instruments to remove any loose pieces of bone or cartilage, and free any ligaments that are caught in the joint.
The ankle reconstruction, is usually done via open surgery. Reconstruction involves retightening the torn ligament with stitches, or in some cases, actually rebuilding the damaged ligament by replacing it with a graft from other ligaments within the foot or ankle.
What happens after surgery?
After surgery you will need to keep your ankle immobilized. This is usually done through the use of a plaster cast or protective boot. It is important that you keep ankle immobilized for the time recommended by your surgeon as removing them too soon, you risk re-tearing the ligaments.
Rehabilitation from ankle reconstruction surgery involves time. The length of your recovery will depend upon the extent of your injury and the amount of surgery that you needed. Rehabilitation time can range from a few weeks to a few months.
You will also need to undertake physiotherapy exercises to help you restore strength to your ankle. Your surgeon will talk to you about this.
Rehabilitation from ankle reconstruction surgery involves time. The length of your recovery will depend upon the extent of your injury and the amount of surgery that you needed. Rehabilitation time can range from a few weeks to a few months.
You will also need to undertake physiotherapy exercises to help you restore strength to your ankle. Your surgeon will talk to you about this.