Apoptosis Occurs in the Anterior Talofibular Ligament of Patients With Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability: An In Vitro Study.

Apoptosis occurs more in chronic injured ligaments than in acutely injured ligaments. Although urgent surgical repair is not required for acute anterior talofibular ligament injury, chronic lateral ankle instability may progress if the nonoperative treatment is not successful. Further research should focus not only on timing of apoptotic progression, but also on biological augmentation to reverse or prevent apoptosis within the anterior talofibular ligament.