Reconstruction for lateral instability of the ankle.

Lateral instability of the ankle in a young athlete is often very disabling. When conservative management of this instability fails, a surgical procedure described by Chrisman and Snook reconstructs both the anterior fibulotalar and fibulocalcaneal ligaments. In eleven patients who were followed for more than two years, this procedure gave predictably good results. Return to full sports activities can be expected for the young athlete.