Ankle Ligament Repair (Brostrom) Recovery
Brostrom Procedure (Lateral Ankle Ligament Reconstruction)
What the operation does
The ligaments on the outer side of the ankle have stretched out or torn, so the ankle gives way. The operation finds the stretched ligament, shortens it, and reattaches it to the bone under proper tension — often reinforced with a flap of the strong tissue that covers the ankle, and in many cases with a suture or tape running alongside to protect it while it heals.
Why the ankle kept giving way
After a bad sprain the ligament heals long rather than not at all, so it holds in ordinary walking and lets go the moment the ankle is loaded on an uneven edge. That is why the ankle can feel fine most of the time and still turn over repeatedly, and why strengthening alone had probably stopped helping — you cannot strengthen a ligament back to length.
Why physiotherapy is usually tried first
A meaningful proportion of unstable ankles settle with rehabilitation aimed at the muscles that resist rolling and at balance, because much of instability is a loss of the reflexes that catch the ankle rather than the ligament alone. Surgery is generally reserved for ankles that keep giving way despite proper rehabilitation.
What was found alongside
Ankles that have rolled repeatedly often carry other damage, and it is common for a scope to be done at the same time to look. Loose fragments, scar tissue at the front, or a patch of damaged cartilage on the talus are all frequently dealt with in the same sitting. If a cartilage lesion was treated, that part dictates the timetable and the recovery is considerably longer.
Weight and the boot
A cast or boot is usual for the first weeks to protect the repair, commonly around two weeks strictly, then weight in the boot building up. Many people are walking in a boot by two to four weeks. Where a tape reinforcement was used, weight is sometimes allowed sooner. Your surgeon will be specific.
What you protect against
Turning the foot inward — the exact movement that caused the injury. That is the position the repair is most vulnerable in, and it is deliberately avoided in the early programme even as the ankle is moved up and down freely. Bending the foot up and down is safe; rolling it is not.
Why balance work matters so much here
More than after most operations. The repair restores the ligament's length, but what actually stops an ankle turning over in daily life is the reflex that fires before you feel it going. That reflex is trained by balance work, and it is the reason single-leg and unstable-surface exercises feature heavily later in the programme rather than being an optional extra.
Stiffness afterwards
Some loss of inward tilt is expected and is part of how the operation works — an ankle tightened enough to be stable is not going to be as loose as it was. Most people find it makes no practical difference. Up-and-down movement usually returns fully.
Numbness on the outer foot
A nerve runs close to the incision on the outer ankle, and numbness or altered sensation along the outer border of the foot toward the little toe is common afterwards. It usually improves over months and occasionally leaves a permanent patch.
Swelling
The outer ankle swells and stays swollen for months — commonly three to six, worse in the evening and after activity. Elevation in the first weeks helps.
How well it holds
This is a reliable operation. Most people get a stable ankle and stop rolling it, and satisfaction is generally high. Stretching out again over the years is possible, more so in people who are naturally very flexible, in whom a reconstruction using a tendon graft is sometimes chosen instead of a repair.
Driving
For a right ankle, driving generally waits until you are out of the boot, walking comfortably, and could brake hard without hesitating — commonly around six to eight weeks. A left ankle in an automatic is usually much sooner.
Returning to work and sport
Desk-based work is often possible within one to two weeks; work on your feet commonly six to eight weeks. Straight-line running typically returns around three months, and cutting or pivoting sport around four to six — guided by whether the ankle feels reliable on uneven ground rather than by a date. A brace for the first season back is commonly advised.
How the first year usually unfolds
Two weeks protected in a cast or boot with the foot kept out of the rolling position. Two to six weeks brings weight in a boot and up-and-down movement. Six to twelve weeks brings normal shoes, strengthening and the start of serious balance work. Three to six months brings running and a graded return to sport. Confidence on uneven ground is usually the last thing to come back, and it does come.
Staying in touch with your care team
What else was found and treated in the ankle changes this recovery considerably, particularly where cartilage was involved. Your surgeon knows what they saw. If something about your recovery is worrying you or does not match what is described here, contact your care team.
Exercises for Ankle Ligament Repair (Brostrom)
An illustrated, phase-by-phase exercise program for this procedure. View the Ankle Ligament Repair (Brostrom) exercise program.
Recovery education · Condition guides · Exercise programs
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This guide is general education and doesn't replace evaluation by a licensed provider. Recovery and treatment vary by person — follow the guidance of your own surgeon or care team.