Ankle Joint Microinstability: You Might Have Never Seen It but It Has Definitely Seen You.

Ankle microinstability results from the superior fascicle of anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) injury and is a potential cause of chronic pain and disability after an ankle sprain. Ankle microinstability is usually asymptomatic. When symptoms appear, patients describe a subjective ankle instability feeling, recurrent symptomatic ankle sprains, anterolateral pain, or a combination of them. A subtle anterior drawer test can usually be observed, with no talar tilt. Ankle microinstability should be initially treated conservatively. If this fails, and because superior fascicle of ATFL is an intra-articular ligament, an arthroscopic procedure is recommended to address.