I had this done in 2001 for severe instability in which I had torn all the ligaments on the lateral side of my left ankle. I have 2 screws in and was in a cast for 6 weeks and then a boot for 6 more. I was off the crutches and pain meds after a week. The surgery itself went fine, but for me I had to go back in for a synovectomy a year later ( this was done through arthroscopic )and this year I have to have a subtalar fusion because of a subtalar instability and in which case I have also retorn one of the repaired ligaments. From what I hear, most of the time this surgery is a permament fix. I'm just an unusual case in which I'm too flexable. I hope it goes well.