Arthroscopy Of the Ankle
Overview
The ankles are one of your most important physical features. They allow you to perform basic but necessary functions such as standing, sitting, and walking. Additionally, they enable your feet to extend and bend.
An injured ankle can result in significant pain and mobility problems. A procedure known as ankle arthroscopy can fix such issues.
Anatomy
The ankle is a large joint connecting the leg and foot. Ankle joints also bring three key bones together. These are the shin bone (tibia), the leg bone (fibula), and the heel bone (talus).
The ankle and the area immediately surrounding it are made up of soft tissues like ligaments and tendons, muscles, blood vessels, and nerves.

Description
When the ankle or neighboring regions is injured or diseased, any number of conditions may develop that might eventually bring forth the need for ankle arthroscopy. Specific occurrences include:
- Impingement – This condition happens when soft tissues grow inflamed and press against or impinge on nearby structures.
- Arthrofibrosis – A stiffness or thickening of the ankle joint can result in arthrofibrosis. The problem often develops because scar tissue from some type of previous injury collects inside the ankle.
- Loose Fragments – Occasionally, ankle injuries can lead to the loosening of small pieces of bone or soft tissues. When these small pieces travel, they can cause damage to things they encounter.
- Synovitis – The ankle joint is lined with a protective covering called synovial tissue. When this safeguard is injured or inflamed, problem symptoms can result. Often, the condition is caused by overuse of the ankle joint. It might also result from diseases like arthritis.
- Infection – Arthroscopy of the ankle may be used to treat infections. Soft tissue infections often require internal cleansing of diseased structures besides antibiotic treatment.
- Fractures – can fractures to ankle bones can be repaired with arthroscopy. Broken structures might be positioned back together or fused using this technique.
Symptoms Of Issues That May Need Arthroscopy of The Ankle
Symptoms of ankle issues that may need an arthroscopic procedure will range in appearance and severity, based on the specific problem. Many of these concerns produce common symptoms, including:
- Pain.
- Discomfort that worsens when partaking in any movement or exercise.
- Swelling.
- Redness.
- Bruising.
Moderate or severe issues may cause instability (the feeling that the ankle joint is loose and might give out at any time), the inability to place weight on the wounded foot, and mobility limitations.

Possible Complications
If not correctly addressed, certain ankle problems can eventually lead to chronic pain and serious mobility issues. Such issues might weaken other ankle, foot, or leg parts resulting in further injuries and associated symptoms.
Diagnosing Issues That May Need Arthroscopy
Your orthopedic specialist will often begin the diagnostic process by asking you several questions designed to give them a better idea of how to proceed. Such questions might include the following:
- When did the pain start?
- What type of work do you do?
- What leisure or athletic activities do you participate in?
- Do any movements make the pain worse?
- Were you previously diagnosed with an ankle, foot, or leg injury?

This first stage is usually followed by a complete physical evaluation where your physician will closely examine your ankle to identify any apparent abnormalities. They might also ask you to perform various movement tests to determine the pain threshold and motion ranges.
Internal ankle damage is often confirmed using diagnostic imaging tests such as X-rays, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scans, or CT (Computerized Tomography) scans.
Arthroscopy Of the Ankle
Ankle arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat specific ankle conditions.
Surgeons perform ankle arthroscopy using a small tube-like device called an arthroscope. It is equipped with a tiny camera capable of producing images that can be sent to a computer. Arthroscopes are also fitted with small but specially designed surgical tools.
Both doctors and patients favor this form of treatment because it requires smaller incisions, less bleeding, or any other potential concern associated with traditional open surgery and usually takes less time to recover.
Preparation
Patients might be asked not to eat or drink specific products in the days and hours leading up to the procedure. They are also advised to mention any over-the-counter or prescription medications they routinely take to their doctor. Certain drugs might interfere with the process or increase the possibility of experiencing post-surgical complications.
The Process
Before beginning the procedure, the patient will be given some form of anesthesia. Once sedation has set in, the area surrounding the patient’s ankle will be cleaned and sterilized.
Surgeons then make small cuts to enable the arthroscope’s portals to enter. Once this step is complete, doctors will insert the device and perform whatever actions are necessary for the patient in question.
Once the procedure is complete, the arthroscope will be carefully removed. The last stage of the process involves surgeons stitching and bandaging the portal openings.
Recovery
Every patient’s recovery time differs and varies based on their age, weight, physical activity level, general health, the specific underlying condition for which the procedure was used to correct, and that issue’s severity. The healing process will likely need a period where the patient’s foot is immobilized to prevent re-injury and a potential course of physical therapy.
Next Steps
Contact your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician to learn more about ankle arthroscopy.
Areas of Focus
- Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg
- Achilles Tendinitis - Achilles Insertional Calcific Tendinopathy (ACIT)
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendonitis
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle)
- Ankle Fusion Surgery
- Arthroscopic Articular Cartilage Repair
- Arthroscopy Of the Ankle
- Bunions
- Charcot Joint
- Common Foot Fractures in Athletes
- Foot Stress Fractures
- Hallux Rigidus Surgery - Cheilectomy
- Hammer Toe
- High Ankle Sprain (Syndesmosis Ligament Injury)
- Intraarticular Calcaneal Fracture
- Lisfranc Injuries
- Mallet, Hammer & Claw Toes
- Metatarsalgia
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Neuromas (Foot)
- Orthopedic Physician Or A Podiatrist?
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Sports Foot Injuries
- Sprained Ankle
- Total Ankle Replacement
- Turf Toe
The following Florida Orthopaedic Institute physicians specialize in Arthroscopy Of the Ankle:
Specialties
- AC Joint Injuries
- Achilles Tendinitis - Achilles Insertional Calcific Tendinopathy (ACIT)
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendonitis
- ACL Injuries
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle)
- Ankle Fusion Surgery
- Anterior Cervical Corpectomy & Discectomy
- Arthroscopic Articular Cartilage Repair
- Arthroscopic Chondroplasty
- Arthroscopic Debridement of the Elbow
- Arthroscopy Of the Ankle
- Articular Cartilage Restoration
- Artificial Disk Replacement (ADR)
- Aspiration of the Olecranon Bursa
- Atraumatic Shoulder Instability
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
- Bankart Repair
- Basal Joint Surgery
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Bicep Tenodesis
- Bone Cement Injection
- Bone Growth Stimulation
- Bone Health Clinic
- Broken Collarbone
- Bunions
- Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Charcot Joint
- Chiropractic
- Clavicle Fractures
- Colles’ Fractures (Broken Wrist)
- Common Foot Fractures in Athletes
- Community Outreach
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Degenerative Disk Disease
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
- Discectomy
- Discitis Treatment & Information
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dupuytren’s Disease
- Elbow
- Elbow Bursitis
- Elbow Injuries in Throwing Athletes
- Epidural Injections for Spinal Pain
- Finger Dislocation
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Foot Stress Fractures
- Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg
- Foraminotomy
- Fractured Fingers
- Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Fractures Of The Tibial Spine
- Functional Nerve Transfers of The Hand
- Ganglion Cysts
- General Orthopedics
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- Hip Dislocation
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- Hip Fractures
- Hip Hemiarthroplasty
- Hip Impingement Labral Tears
- Hip Muscle Strains
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- Impingement Syndrome of the Shoulder
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- Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection
- Lumbar Interbody Fusion (IBF)
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- Mallet, Hammer & Claw Toes
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- Meniscus Tears
- Metatarsalgia
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Muscle Spasms
- Nerve Pain
- Neuromas (Foot)
- Neurosurgery
- Olecranon Stress Fractures
- Orthopaedic Total Wellness
- Orthopedic Physician Or A Podiatrist?
- Orthopedic Trauma
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- Pinched Nerve
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Podiatry
- Primary Care Sports Medicine
- Quadriceps Tendon Tear
- Radial Tunnel Syndrome (Entrapment of the Radial Nerve)
- Revascularization of the Hand
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Shoulder
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Hand
- Robotics
- Rotator Cuff Tears
- Runner's Knee
- Sacroiliac Joint Pain
- Sciatica
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- Shoulder
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Injury: Pain In The Overhead Athlete
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Separations
- Shoulder Socket Fracture (Glenoid Fracture)
- SLAP Tears & Repairs
- Spinal Fusion
- Spine
- Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis
- Sports Foot Injuries
- Sports Hernias (Athletic Pubalgia)
- Sports Medicine
- Sports Wrist and Hand Injuries
- Sprained Ankle
- Sprained Wrist Symptoms and Treatment
- Subacromial Decompression
- Sudden (Acute) Finger, Hand & Wrist Injuries
- Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)
- Tendon Transfers of The Hand
- Tennis Elbow
- Thigh Fractures
- Thigh Muscle Strains
- Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Total Ankle Replacement
- Total Hip Arthroplasty
- Total Hip Replacement - Anterior Approach
- Total Knee Replacement Surgery
- Trapezius Strain (Muscle Strain of The Upper Back)
- Traumatic Shoulder Instability
- Triceps Tendonitis
- Trigger Finger
- Turf Toe
- UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) Injuries
- Ulnar Neuritis
- Valgus Extension Overload
- Vertebroplasty
- WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet)
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
- Wound Care
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Wrist Fractures
- Wrist Tendonitis
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