title: Management of chronic lateral ankle instability in military service members.
abstract: Chronic lateral ankle instability is a condition frequently encountered by orthopedic surgeons treating highly active patient populations, particularly military service members. Providers treating military service members must have a high index of suspicion for this condition when signs and symptoms of functional or mechanical instability exist. Stress testing and ankle MRI, although not definitive in sensitivity for detecting instability or other concomitant injuries, should be considered during the treatment decision-making process. Appropriate nonoperative treatment should be attempted initially; however, when nonoperative treatment fails, surgical management is warranted to prevent untoward long-term sequelae. Proper surgical treatment and subsequent postoperative management are at the discretion of the individual surgeon but must account for the concomitant diseases frequently associated with chronic lateral ankle instability. Low recurrence of lateral instability can be achieved even in high-demand military patient populations with a focused treatment plan.
authors.affiliation: William Beaumont Army Medical Center, 5005 N. Piedras Street, El Paso, TX 79920, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, Texas. Electronic address: Justin.d.orr.mil@mail.mil.
authors.forename: Justin D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Orr
authors.affiliation: Madigan Army Medical Center, 9040 Jackson Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98431, USA.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.affiliation: William Beaumont Army Medical Center, 5005 N. Piedras Street, El Paso, TX 79920, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, Texas.
authors.forename: Brian R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Waterman
mesh_terms: D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008889:Military Personnel; D012307:Risk Factors; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Ankle instability; Ankle sprain; Chronic; Lateral instability; Military; Treatment