Which specific ankle ligaments are most commonly damaged and typically repaired during ankle ligament reconstruction surgery, and how does the type of ligament involved affect the surgical approach and recovery process?
Most ankle reconstructions target the lateral ligaments, especially the ATFL. I had surgery on mine, and the rehab was different than what it would’ve been for other ligaments. Exercises were gradual to avoid stressing the repaired ligament.
The ATFL and occasionally the CFL are the ligaments surgeons usually fix. I had my ATFL repaired, and my therapy focused on protecting it first and strengthening it slowly. It made everything feel more doable.