IC 108  

Ankle Instability in the Athlete: Controversial Issues     

Course Description:

Instability and associated pathologies continue to be a significant concern in athletes and sports performance. Over the last several years a number of concepts have surfaced that contribute to ankle stability and long-term management of ankle dysfunction in the athlete. These concepts include the relationship of concurrent medial and lateral instability, when is more than a Brostrum required to stabilize (augmentation), the use of arthroscopy, as well as rehabilitation and return-to-play. This case-based course will be a comprehensive discussion of ankle instability and these associated controversial concepts as they apply in the athlete. We will discuss the non-operative and operative treatment of ankle instability. Cases will be reviewed with a focus on relevant anatomy, biomechanics, clinical evaluation, imaging, and rehabilitation principles, and return-to-play guidelines. The presenters will also discuss the latest principles in management including timing of surgical treatment, the latest arthroscopic procedures, and the role of medial sided ankle injuries in ankle instability, and ligament augmentation. Case presentations will highlight the controversial concepts in the management of ankle instability. The purpose of this instructional course lecture is to provide an update on latest principles and allow practitioners to immediately apply these concepts to their practice.   

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the evaluation and non-operative management of the unstable ankle including associated pathologies
• Determine the appropriate timing of surgical stabilization: Early vs Late?    
• Discuss the latest arthroscopic and open management of ankle instability including synthetic augmentation and their outcomes
• Discuss rehabilitation and return-to-play guidelines                             

Faculty:

Brian C. Lau, MD

Annunziato (Ned) Amendola, MD           

C. Thomas Haytmanek, MD        

Kirk A. McCullough, MD