Have you ever rolled your ankle, rested it, and assumed it had healed fully—only for it to give out again a few weeks later? If your ankle constantly feels wobbly, loose, or unreliable, you’re likely dealing with chronic ankle instability.
At Aloha Foot and Ankle Associates in Mission Viejo, California, our team of four dedicated podiatrists, including Stephanie Dal Porto-Kujanpaa, DPM, specializes in helping patients regain their footing. We know how frustrating it is when you can't trust your own body, but you don't have to live with a "trick ankle."
When conservative treatments like physical therapy aren't enough, modern surgical correction can safely get you back in the game.
Your ankle keeps giving way because the ligaments that support the joint have become stretched, weakened, or torn from previous injuries. When these tissues can’t hold the joint in place, your ankle loses its mechanical stability, making you highly vulnerable to repeated sprains.
This issue is more than just a nuisance; it can cause long-term damage to your joint. In fact, research shows that 70% to 80% of all end-stage ankle osteoarthritis cases are post-traumatic, meaning they stem directly from chronic instability or past injuries, according to the National Institutes of Health (2026).
Every time your ankle slips, it causes microscopic wear and tear on your joint cartilage. Over time, this friction strips away the protective cartilage, which can lead to chronic foot pain and irreversible arthritis.
Surgical correction restores your stability by physically repairing the damaged ligaments and anchoring them back to their proper positions on the bone. This procedure stops the abnormal sliding of your joint, allowing you to walk, run, and play sports without fear of re-injury.
For active individuals, the results are highly encouraging.
A major study published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine (2023) found that patients achieved a 95% absolute return-to-sport rate after undergoing anatomic ankle stabilization. Additionally, 83% of those patients successfully returned to their exact pre-injury level of play.
To make recovery even faster, we often utilize advanced internal bracing techniques. By placing a high-strength suture tape over the repaired ligament, we can protect the joint during early healing.
According to a study in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research (2026), this internal brace augmentation allows patients to return to full sports participation an average of 4 to 8 weeks earlier than standard repairs alone.
You don't have to let ankle instability dictate your lifestyle or keep you on the sidelines. If you're ready to protect your joint and regain your active life, we’re here to help. Please contact our team today to schedule a consultation at our Mission Viejo, California, office.
