“Does a torn ligament in the ankle require surgery?”
I am a 49 year old male. I want to know does a torn ligament in the ankle require surgery?
19 Answers
Not always. A lot of ligaments in the ankle heal very well if treated properly with a walking boot immediately after or a ankle brace. One ligament does require surgery and this ligament runs between your shin bone and the other smaller bone to the outside of the leg. This ligament needs fixed but most ankle ligaments do not require surgery.
As a last resort if the ankle is unstable.
A torn ankle ligament does not necessarily require ankle surgery. Surgery is dependent on the type of tear and the lifestyle of the patient.
THE QUESTION IS NOT SIMPLE, ALL WILL DEPEND ON THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE CASE, IT COULD GO FROM IMMOBILIZATION FOR A FE WEEKS TO SURGERY. YOU WOULD NEED TO CONSULT A PODIATRIST. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GIVE AN ANSWER WITHOUT AN EXAMINATION WHICH WILL DETERMINE THE PROPER SOLUTION
Hello,
Yes, a torn ligament in an active, young, under 65 individual should likely be repaired in the OR for better stability.
Dr. Patel
Yes, a torn ligament in an active, young, under 65 individual should likely be repaired in the OR for better stability.
Dr. Patel
Does not most of the time, but it does need proper treatment. This will progress if left untreated.
Not always.
It depends on the extent of the tear and the degree of instability the patient is experiencing. Your age, level of physical conditioning, and nutritional status also have to be considered before making this decision.
There is no straight forward answer to this question. It depends upon which ligament(s) your activity level and the stability of the joint.
Hello,
If the ligament does not heal with immobilization and there is instability in the ankle then surgery would be required.
Dr. Lui
If the ligament does not heal with immobilization and there is instability in the ankle then surgery would be required.
Dr. Lui
It depends if it is a complete tear or partial tear. I partial tear can heal with immobilization, but will leave scar tissue. Sometimes surgical repair of a partial tear can increase ankle stability ( it depends on the severity and the doctor). A complete tear requires surgery, this prevents an unstable ankle when walking.
Not necessarily depending on initial treatment at time of injury, severity of injury, current symptoms, and how it responds to conservative treatment. In addition, the health, age, and physical requirements of the individual going forward would also play a part in the need or even the recommendation for surgical repair.
Jan David Tepper DPM, FACFAS
Jan David Tepper DPM, FACFAS
Depending on the degree of tear, sometimes surgery is not required. Best is to get an MRI to determine what degree the ligament is torn.
Jonathan M. Kletz, DPM
Jonathan M. Kletz, DPM
You need to be evaluated by your foot and ankle surgeon depends what ligament is torn and how much damage. Yes, surgery might be indicated, but also sometimes it will heal conservatively.
Thank you,
Dr. Mark Gorman
Thank you,
Dr. Mark Gorman
It depends on how severe and which ligament. Some are amendable you physical therapy and immobilization while others do need to be repaired. Really depends on how bad the tear is, whether it is complete or partial. Also depends on how unstable the ankle is due to the tear. Ultrasound or MRI will help guide therapy.
Ahmad Farah, DPM
Ahmad Farah, DPM
Not necessarily. Many instances of ligament tears can be treated with rest, bracing and physical therapy.
Sometimes. Typically, I attempt attempt 8-10 weeks of conservative treatment.
Sometimes a torn ligament requires surgery, and sometimes it does not. It depends on your symptoms and the stability of your ankle. If you feel stable, and you are not experiencing frequent sprains and are not in much pain, the ligament does not usually need to be surgically repaired. But if you feel like you are always going to sprain your ankle, and/or your are having a lot of pain in the ankle, you may need surgery. The only way to diagnostically diagnose a torn ligament is to have an MRI. You must have a positive MRI finding of torn ligaments before even considering such surgery. Look up lateral ankle instability, lateral ankle instability, Brostrom procedure/modified Brostrom procedure.
Torn ligaments may need to be repaired, depending of the severity. I recommend you see a foot and ankle surgeon (podiatrist) to get a complete diagnosis and to review the treatment options
