Concepts based on newer medical information concerning ankle injuries have changed in recent years. With these changing concepts, the method of treatment has also changed. It is the purpose of this article to review some of the commonly known information concerning ankle sprains, to emphasize the association of subtalar injury with the ankle sprain complex, to outline new information concerning the static stabilizers on the lateral aspect of the ankle, and finally, to utilize this information in producing a rationale for a new type of surgical treatment for chronic instability of the ankle.