Treat Your Ankle Sprain with our Orthopaedic Specialist
Dr James Wee
Senior Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
MBBS (Singapore), MRCS (Edinburgh),
MMed (Ortho), FRCS (Edinburgh)(Ortho)
Dr James Wee is an Senior Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon with dual-subspecialties in both Hip & Knee and Foot & Ankle Surgery. He is a complete lower limb surgeon, coming to 20 years of clinical experience.
He was trained in the UK and is an expert in complex minimally invasive procedures as well as surgical intervention. He also co-published the “Lasso” Technique for ankle ligament reconstruction, a minimally invasive surgical (MIS) technique using only a single 1cm incision.
Aside from clinical practice, Dr Wee was appointed Adjunct Assistant Professor in Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, a Senior Lecturer in Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, and has authored multiple international peer-reviewed scientific journal articles.
How do ankle sprains occur?
Ankle sprains make up 50% of sports-related injuries, and are common among athletes and dancers. They usually occur when the ankle is twisted or rolled inwards/outwards under excessive force. This forces all the weight onto the outer edge of the foot, which stresses the ligaments on the outer side of the ankle, causing them to stretch out and lead to tears.
What are the types of ankle sprains?
There are 3 types of ankle sprains based on the severity of ligament damage:
Grade 1 (Mild Sprain)
Slight stretch and microscopic tear of the ligament fibres with mild tenderness, bruising, and swelling around the ankle. Typically no pain with weightbearing and no instability upon examination.
Grade 2 (Moderate Sprain)
Partial tear of the ligament with moderate tenderness, bruising, and swelling around the ankle. Mild pain with weightbearing and slight instability upon examination.
Grade 3 (Severe Sprain)
Complete tear of the ligament with significant tenderness, bruising, and swelling around the ankle. Severe pain with weightbearing and substantial instability upon examination.
1cm “Lasso” Technique for Ankle Ligament Reconstruction
Ankle Ligament Reconstruction is the surgical treatment of ankle injuries or damaged ankle ligaments to restore stability and function.
Co-developed by Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr James Wee, the Minimally Invasive Surgical (MIS) “Lasso” technique has the distinction of achieving successful outcomes of percutaneous ankle ligament reconstruction with just a single 1cm incision. This is much smaller than 6 - 8cm needed for an open reconstruction.
The ankle ligaments are repaired using a single suture anchor, and the repair is reinforced by recruiting an adjacent band of tissue for additional strength.
Benefits:
◆ Minimal pain and swelling after surgery
◆ Rapid recovery and early return to high-level sports
◆ Lower risk of skin complications and infections
◆
Less visible scars
What are the risks of late treatment?
Treating Your Ankle Sprain with a Personalised Solution
Whether it’s a mild ankle sprain or something a little more serious, we treat each ankle sprain with the utmost care by personalising your treatment to your lifestyle needs. This includes:
Non-Operative Treatments
Initial treatment for ankle sprains include the RICE method and prescription of certain medications to help reduce pain and inflammation of the ankle.
Our orthopaedic specialist may also recommend physiotherapy or the use of a functional brace to control and prevent excessive turning of the ankle.
Surgical Treatments
Surgery is recommended if you develop ankle instability and recurrent sprains that persist after rehabilitative physiotherapy.
Our orthopaedic specialist may recommend minimally invasive surgery (MIS) to facilitate rapid recovery and early return to high-level sports and dance activities.
At Oxford Orthopaedics, We’re Committed to Personalising Your Treatment
◆ Expert care for lower limb pain, sports injuries, and limb reconstruction
◆ Evidence-based and proven treatments suited to your needs
◆ Minimally invasive treatment options for faster and safer results
◆ Accelerated recovery with minimal pain and flexibility
◆ Hassle-free appointments for your convenience
◆ Passionate team providing attentive care throughout your recovery
◆
Provision of financial counselling and assistance with insurance claims
Don’t let ankle sprains get the best of you!
We’re here to help you live your life without any pain in your feet.
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Insurance
Here at Oxford Orthopaedics, we’d like to walk you through your entire healthcare experience — from your first consultation to your recovery.
This includes working with your insurer during the claims and billings process to ensure a comfortable and hassle-free journey.
For those with Integrated Shield plans with riders for private hospital coverage or Corporate Insurance plans, you can rest easy as we provide assistance in obtaining a Letter of Guarantee (LOG) or Pre-authorisation certificate for your procedure. Additionally, we work with the hospital or surgical centres in processing your medical claims.
Please find the recognised insurance panels below:
Integrated Shield Plans
Corporate Insurance Partners
