Surgery for Foot & Ankle Sprains

Though most foot and ankle sprains heal after several weeks of rest, ice, compression, and elevation or physical therapy, some injuries may require surgery. Your NYU Langone doctor may recommend surgery if you have a fully torn ligament in the foot or ankle or a Lisfranc injury, in which the bones in the midfoot are broken or the ligaments are torn.

People with chronic instability in the ankle who do not respond to nonsurgical treatments may require surgery to tighten the ligaments in the joint.

Your surgeon determines the type of procedure that’s necessary based on the location and extent of the injury. Some surgical procedures make use of screws to return a bone to its original position. Others involve tightening or reconstructing affected ligaments.

Surgery is performed with general anesthesia in the hospital.

One to two weeks after surgery, you visit your NYU Langone doctor, who monitors your healing and removes any stitches. You may use crutches during recovery, typically for four to six weeks.

Six weeks after surgery, your doctor may recommend physical therapy to build strength or improve range of motion and balance in the foot or ankle.