Introduction

Article Outline

• Copyright

This issue of Operative Techniques in Sports Medicine provides an overview of some of the most commonly encountered conditions in injured athletes. Each article emphasizes the principle of accurate diagnosis and the proper considerations for thorough evaluation. I am indebted to the experts who have prepared the enclosed manuscripts. The authors include many of the recognized experts in foot and ankle sports medicine, and each author has written about a topic and techniques in which they have demonstrated mastery clinically.

Orthopedic surgeons appear to be evaluating a growing number of foot and ankle sports injuries, many of which stem from “high impact” sports. Some conditions, such as lateral ankle instability, are familiar and there are decades of collective experience in treatment. Others, such as medial ankle instability, are still being described and defined and treatment options are being developed and tested. The advents of arthroscopic treatments and other less invasive procedures create an opportunity to improve the care of injured athletes. The goal of this collection of manuscripts is to expose the reader to some new perspectives and techniques on “old” problems, and to provide techniques of management of some more recently identified foot and ankle problems in athletes.