Ankle sprains are extremely common.
Most people will heal after an ankle sprain and with exercises and rehabilitation will be able to stabilize the joint and prevent recurring sprains. A small percentage will suffer recurring sprains and the ankle will 'give out' easily, often with a simple misstep while walking. In these cases surgery may be recommended to repair the torn ligaments. The most commonly performed repair is called a Brostrom repair and involves the direct repair and tightening of the original ligament reinforced with other local tissue.