Ankle ligaments are commonly damaged during sports as well as during normal activity. This problem can be very painful and even unsafe if you cannot trust your ankle to hold your weight.

There are many different potential causes of ankle pain and instability and to determine which one is causing the problem you should book an appointment with Mr Dawe, Foot and Ankle specialist surgeon for an assessment. An MRI scan is often needed to confirm the exact nature of the problem.

Most ankle instability can be treated without surgery but sometimes an operation is necessary. Recently a device called the 'internal brace' has been developed which Mr Dawe uses for some cases of ankle ligament instability. This is a very strong type of repair which allows an early return to activity. How quickly you recover will however depend on the nature of your injury.

See below for an animation of the internal brace.