Common foot & ankle concerns we treat
- Pain that limits walking, standing, or sleep
- Stiffness, swelling, or reduced range of motion
- Sports injuries — acute or overuse
- Arthritis or post-traumatic joint changes
- Conditions other doctors couldn’t resolve
Foot & Ankle · Procedures
Lateral Ankle Ligament Reconstruction stable footing
Lateral ankle ligament reconstruction tightens or rebuilds the worn-out ligaments on the outside of the ankle so it stops giving way and rolling. Our fellowship-trained and experienced foot and ankle specialists perform this repair across eight Los Angeles-area offices, with on-site imaging and a conservative-first approach before any surgery is recommended.
Live · Now Accepting
Experts in foot & ankle care.
Surgical and non-surgical options at LAOSS.
15+
Years caring
Same-day appointments
Often available
★★★★★
4.9 · 7,500+ reviews
What sets LAOSS apart
- Same- or next-day appointments at eight Los Angeles–area offices
- On-site imaging; PT coordinated with your in-network provider
- Conservative-first care, surgery only when needed
- Board-certified specialists, not generalists
Key takeaways
- Repairs or rebuilds the outside ankle ligaments (ATFL and CFL) when the ankle keeps rolling or giving way despite bracing and physical therapy.
- The most common technique is the modified Broström-Gould — the native ligament is tightened and reinforced with nearby tissue, often using small suture anchors.
- Surgery is usually paired with ankle arthroscopy to check for and treat cartilage damage inside the joint at the same time.
- Most people return to sport around three to six months, after structured peroneal strengthening and balance training.
Overview
What is lateral ankle ligament reconstruction?
The ankle is held steady on its outer side by a small group of ligaments — mainly the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) and the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL), which run from the end of the fibula (the outer ankle bone) to the talus and heel bone. These are the ligaments injured in a classic "rolled ankle." Most sprains heal well with bracing and rehab. But when they heal stretched out or never fully heal, the ankle can become chronically unstable — it gives way on uneven ground, rolls easily, and feels untrustworthy.
Lateral ankle ligament reconstruction is the surgery that fixes this instability. The goal is to restore normal tension to the outer ligaments so the ankle stops shifting where it shouldn't. It is considered only after a fair trial of non-surgical care — typically several months of bracing plus physical therapy aimed at the peroneal muscles and balance (proprioception) — has not stopped the recurrent rolling.
This is not the same as treating a fresh sprain. It is a planned procedure for an ankle that has been unstable for a while, confirmed on exam by a loose, positive anterior drawer or talar tilt test and supported by MRI or stress imaging. Because cartilage injuries inside the joint often travel with long-standing instability, the surgery is frequently combined with a look inside the joint using a camera.
Patient education
Watch: Lateral Ankle Ligament Reconstruction
This surgery corrects an unstable ankle. It tightens one or more ligaments that support your ankle. It helps people who've had repeated ankle sprains. It can also help people who have certain foot deformities.
Animations licensed from ViewMedica · Swarm Interactive
Anatomy of the foot & ankle — tibia, talus, calcaneus, metatarsals, and the plantar fascia.
Anatomy
Inside the foot & ankle.
The foot and ankle have 26 bones, more than 30 joints, and over 100 ligaments and tendons. The plantar fascia spans the bottom of the foot, the Achilles tendon anchors the calf to the heel, and the ankle is a hinge that handles every step you take. Most foot and ankle problems trace back to overload, alignment, or footwear that doesn’t match the way your foot is built.
How it works
How lateral ankle ligament reconstruction is performed
The procedure is done under anesthesia, usually as a same-day outpatient surgery. The exact steps depend on how much healthy ligament tissue remains.
- Arthroscopy first. Most surgeons begin with a small camera (ankle arthroscopy) to inspect the joint. This is where cartilage lesions on the talus, loose fragments, scar tissue, or impingement are found and addressed — these often coexist with chronic instability and are easy to miss otherwise.
- Repair (the modified Broström-Gould). Through a small incision over the outer ankle, the surgeon finds the stretched or detached ATFL (and often the CFL), tightens it, and reattaches it firmly to the fibula — commonly with tiny suture anchors. The repair is then reinforced by stitching a nearby band of tissue, the inferior extensor retinaculum, over the top (the "Gould" step). This is the most common and reliable approach.
- Reconstruction with a graft. When the native ligament is too thin or worn to repair — for example in revision surgery, very loose-jointed (hyperlax) patients, or high-demand athletes — the surgeon rebuilds the ligaments using a tendon graft (your own tendon or a donor tendon) routed to recreate the ATFL and CFL.
- Internal brace augmentation. A strong suture-tape "internal brace" may be added to protect the repair and allow earlier, safer rehabilitation. Whether it is used is a judgment call your surgeon will explain.
The incisions are closed, and the ankle is placed in a splint or boot before you go home the same day.
Surgeon expertise
Why experience matters.
Why experience matters
Foot & Ankle care is highly technique-dependent. Volume, training, and judgment together determine the outcome you actually feel six months later.
- Precise diagnosis from imaging and exam
- Conservative-first care that avoids unnecessary surgery
- Surgical technique refined over thousands of cases
- On-site imaging + coordinated PT through your in-network provider
The LAOSS approach
Our foot & ankle specialists move stepwise — start with the least-invasive option that fits your situation, escalate only when it doesn't.
- Same-day imaging at most offices
- PT coordinated in your insurance network
- Board-certified surgeons performing the procedures themselves
- Direct access to your specialist between visits
Candidacy
Am I a candidate?
If most of these match your situation, an evaluation with a foot & ankle specialist is the next step.
You may be
You may be a candidate if
These signs typically point toward an in-person evaluation with a foot & ankle specialist.
- Your ankle repeatedly rolls or gives way on uneven ground, stairs, or in sport
- Bracing and several months of physical therapy (peroneal strengthening and balance work) haven't stopped the instability
- Your exam shows looseness — a positive anterior drawer or talar tilt test
- MRI or stress X-rays confirm the outer ankle ligaments are stretched or torn
- You're otherwise healthy enough for outpatient surgery and motivated to complete a structured rehab program
Evaluation
What evaluation includes
Your first visit is built to give you an answer the same day, not just another referral.
- Detailed history — onset, mechanism, what makes it better or worse
- Hands-on exam focused on the affected joint or region
- On-site imaging at most offices (X-ray, ultrasound)
- Clear plan with options ranging from conservative to surgical
- Same-day or next-day scheduling for any follow-up tests
ImportantSeek urgent evaluation for sudden severe pain, an open wound or exposed bone, foot or ankle deformity after trauma, loss of sensation, or any sign of infection (fever, spreading redness, or swelling).
Recovery
Your foot & ankle recovery roadmap.
Recovery is rarely a straight line — but a clear plan with measurable milestones makes the path predictable.
01Days 0–14
Right after care
In the first two weeks we focus on protecting the foot & ankle, calming inflammation, and restoring basic motion.
- Activity modification with clear do/don’t guidance
- Ice, elevation, and pain control as needed
- Gentle range-of-motion within safe limits
- Follow-up scheduled to track healing
02Weeks 2–8
Rehabilitation
Targeted physical therapy rebuilds strength, mobility, and confidence in the foot & ankle.
- Progressive strengthening and neuromuscular work
- Manual therapy and soft-tissue treatment
- Sport- or job-specific movement re-training
- Coordinated PT through your in-network provider
03Months 2+
Long-term care
Once function is restored, the focus shifts to keeping you there — and catching any recurrence early.
- Return-to-activity plan with measured benchmarks
- Home program tailored to your sport or job
- Maintenance visits or imaging if symptoms change
- Direct line back to your specialist if needed
Risks & considerations
What to weigh before you decide.
We talk through the risks and benefits with every patient — informed consent is a conversation, not a form.
General
General considerations
Every orthopedic intervention carries a small set of standard risks. We screen, prepare, and monitor for these on every patient.
- Infection (rare with modern technique and prophylaxis)
- Bleeding or bruising at the treatment site
- Reaction to anesthesia or medications
- Need for additional procedures in some cases
Specific
Foot & Ankle-specific considerations
Some risks are tied to the structures we're treating in the foot & ankle. We discuss these in detail at your visit so you can weigh them against the benefits.
- Temporary stiffness or weakness during recovery
- Incomplete pain relief in a small percentage of cases
- Nerve or vessel irritation near the treatment area
- Need for follow-up therapy to fully restore function
Your care team
Meet our foot & ankle surgeons in the Greater Los Angeles area
At LAOSS, our foot & ankle specialists combine advanced surgical expertise with a patient-first approach. From minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques to reconstruction, fracture care, and arthritis management, our physicians bring decades of experience to every case. Trusted across Los Angeles, our team is dedicated to restoring mobility, relieving pain, and helping you return to the activities you love.
Specialists
Meet your foot & ankle specialists.
4 providers
About this care
Why ankle stability is worth getting right
An ankle that keeps rolling is more than an inconvenience. Each episode of giving way risks a new sprain, and repeated instability is strongly linked to cartilage wear on the talus over time — which is much harder to fix than the ligaments themselves. Restoring stability protects the joint, not just your confidence on stairs and trails.
At LAOSS, our foot and ankle specialists treat this the same way every time: conservative care first. Many people who think they need surgery turn out to do well with a focused bracing-and-therapy program targeting the peroneal muscles and balance. We reserve reconstruction for ankles that stay unstable despite a genuine effort at rehab, and we confirm the diagnosis with a hands-on exam and imaging before recommending the operating room.
When surgery is the right call, technique and judgment matter. Repairing your own tissue when it is healthy, reconstructing with a graft when it isn't, and checking the joint surface at the same time are the decisions that determine how the ankle feels a year later. Care is available across eight Los Angeles-area offices, with same- or next-day appointments and on-site imaging at most locations.
Patient reviews
What patients say about us.
★★★★★4.97,500+ Google reviews
Wonderful staff. The MA was so kind to my elderly mom and the doctor explained everything twice so she’d remember. Felt like we were treated like family.
Patricia Aguilar
Cerritos, CA · 6 January 2025
FAQ
Common lateral ankle ligament reconstruction questions
- A fresh sprain almost always heals with bracing and rehab and does not need surgery. This procedure is for an ankle that has stayed loose and keeps giving way for months despite that care, where the ligaments have healed stretched out or torn.
- It's the most common technique for this surgery. The surgeon tightens and reattaches your own outer ankle ligament to the fibula, often with small suture anchors, then reinforces it with a nearby band of tissue (the extensor retinaculum) for added strength.
- Chronic ankle instability often comes with cartilage damage on the talus, loose fragments, or scar tissue inside the joint. A quick camera inspection lets your surgeon find and treat those problems in the same operation instead of missing them.
- You'll spend the first couple of weeks protected in a splint or boot, then progress through physical therapy for motion, peroneal strengthening, and balance training. Most people return to sport around three to six months, depending on the technique used and your progress.
Ready when you are
Don’t wait on pain.
Book a visit with a foot & ankle specialist at any of our eight Los Angeles–area offices.
Booking now
21 specialists · 8 offices
Greater Los Angeles
On-site X-raySame visit
Most insurers acceptedIn-network