Mastering Ankle Instability & Sports Reconstruction | 2026 Conference Roundtable

Following the Mastering Ankle Instability & Sports Reconstruction session at the 2026 Foot Innovate Leadership Conference, moderator Bryan D. Den Hartog, MD, sits down with faculty Brian Burgess, DPM, FACFAS; James Cottom, DPM, FACFAS; Christopher D. Murawski, MD; and Justin Rennard, MD for a practical discussion on the evolving treatment of ankle instability and sports-related foot and ankle injuries. The faculty share their approaches to osteochondral lesions of the talus, including lesion size, debridement, bone grafting, cartilage restoration, and biologic augmentation, while discussing how treatment decisions change with larger or more complex defects. The conversation also explores open versus minimally invasive and arthroscopic ankle stabilization, surgical technique and the learning curve associated with MIS approaches, as well as the importance of identifying associated impingement and syndesmotic pathology. The panel then turns to Achilles pathology and rupture repair, comparing open and minimally invasive techniques, intraoperative tensioning, postoperative rehabilitation, and considerations for restoring tendon length and function. Finally, the group discusses syndesmotic and deltoid injuries, fixation strategies, assessment of instability, and considerations for higher-demand and athletic patients. Moderator: Bryan D. Den Hartog, MD Featuring: Brian Burgess, DPM, FACFAS; James Cottom, DPM, FACFAS; Christopher D. Murawski, MD; Justin Rennard, MD Recorded live at the 2026 Foot Innovate Leadership Conference in Denver, Colorado. Access the complete conference lecture library and additional procedural-based foot and ankle education at FootInnovate.com. The views expressed by the speakers are based on their individual knowledge and experience and do not necessarily reflect the views of Foot Innovate. This podcast is intended for educational purposes and is not intended to endorse specific products or provide medical advice.