Instability of the ankle joint Objective testing methods

Symptomatic instability of the ligaments of the ankle joint is a frequent pathology and often requires ligament reconstruction in cases where conservative treatment fails. In addition to the medical history and subjective perception of the patient, a clinical examination, functional diagnostics, imaging and, if needed, arthroscopy of the ankle joint can provide important information. In most cases a combination of several examination methods is required to establish the diagnosis of an instability of the ankle which requires treatment. In addition to assessment of the instability, it is also important to determine concomitant pathologies. This also includes the identification of a pathological hindfoot malalignment, which can be essential for the treatment strategy. Surgical treatment can be performed via arthroscopy or open with largely favorable clinical outcomes.