[Lateral instability of the upper ankle joint].

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Traumatology

Background:

• Ankle sprains are common injuries with significant clinical and economic impact.
• Distinguishing simple sprains from those risking chronic ankle instability is crucial for appropriate management.
• Chronic ankle instability can arise from inadequately treated acute sprains.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for acute ankle sprains and chronic ankle instability.
• To emphasize the importance of identifying and managing associated intra-articular pathologies.
• To highlight the role of surgical intervention when conservative treatment fails.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature and clinical guidelines for ankle sprain management.
• Discussion of conservative treatment protocols for acute simple sprains and chronic instability.
• Evaluation of surgical techniques, including anatomic ligament reconstruction and arthroscopic approaches.
• Emphasis on diagnostic imaging, such as MRI, for suspected syndesmotic insufficiency.

Main Results:

• Conservative treatment is effective for acute simple ankle sprains and chronic instability.
• Anatomic ligament reconstruction yields good results when conservative methods fail.
• Arthroscopic surgery allows for joint inspection and simultaneous treatment of intra-articular issues.
• Addressing accompanying pathologies during repair is essential to prevent persistent discomfort.

Conclusions:

• Accurate differentiation between simple and complicated ankle sprains is vital.
• A stepwise approach, from conservative care to surgical repair, guides effective ankle sprain management.
• Timely diagnosis and surgical intervention for syndesmotic insufficiency and tibiofibular instability are recommended.