Hindfoot endoscopy for posterior ankle pain

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Procedures
• Foot and Ankle Anatomy

Background:

• Hindfoot pain stems from diverse pathologies, often treatable with endoscopic techniques.
• Traditional open surgery can lead to significant morbidity and prolonged recovery.
• Endoscopic approaches offer potential advantages in patient outcomes and recovery times.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic hindfoot surgery for various pathologies.
• To identify optimal portal placement for endoscopic hindfoot procedures.
• To compare endoscopic techniques with traditional open surgery.

Main Methods:

• A cadaver study was conducted to determine optimal portal placement.
• A two-portal hindfoot endoscopic approach was utilized in a series of 240 procedures.
• Indications included tenosynovectomy, tendon ruptures, bursitis, tendinopathy, and joint pathology.

Main Results:

• The two-portal hindfoot endoscopy approach demonstrated safe and reliable access for diagnosing and treating posterior ankle problems.
• Endoscopic calcaneoplasty for retrocalcaneal bursitis proved a viable alternative to open resection.
• No major complications were reported in 240 consecutive procedures.

Conclusions:

• Endoscopic hindfoot surgery is a safe, reliable, and effective method for managing a range of posterior ankle pathologies.
• The two-portal approach provides excellent visualization and access, particularly for challenging structures like the flexor hallucis longus.
• This minimally invasive technique offers significant advantages over open surgery, including reduced morbidity and improved postoperative recovery.