A NEW OPERATION FOR CHRONIC LATERAL ANKLE INSTABILITY

We have treated 45 patients (47 ankles) for chronic lateral instabilit y by a new reconstructive procedure. The operation includes lateral sh ift of the entire lateral capsule-ligament complex and proximal advanc ement of the talocalcaneal ligament and the inferior extensor retinacu lum. We reviewed 39 patients (39 ankles) at a mean of 4.6 years (2 to 7) after operation, There were 29 men and 10 women with an average age of 27 years (19 to 43); 11 of them were competitive college-level ath letes and 28 were recreational athletes. The functional rating was exc ellent in 26 patients, good in 8, fair in 3 and poor in 2, Thirty-six patients (92%) were satisfied with the result and 34 (9 of 11 college- level athletes and 25 of 28 recreational athletes) have been able to r eturn to their preinjury level of sport. At the last review, there had been only three episodes of recurrent ankle instability, all in recre ational athletes; none had required further surgery, The unsatisfactor y results were associated with pre-existing degenerative changes in th e ankle.