The Prognosis for a Dislocated Ankle
Many patients with a dislocated ankle heal well with appropriate physiotherapy and return to normal function. This may take weeks to months to achieve an optimal outcome. However, due to the severity of the injury and widespread connective tissue damage associated with this condition, patients may experience long-term effects. The most common long-term effect of a dislocated ankle is an increased likelihood of future dislocation or ankle sprain with relatively minor trauma. In cases of recurrent ankle dislocation, surgical intervention may be indicated to increase the ankle's stability. This is usually followed by an extensive rehabilitation program lasting many months.
Patients with a dislocated ankle who also have damage to other structures such as cartilage, bone, or nerves are likely to have a significantly extended rehabilitation period to gain optimum function.