Anterior and posterior ankle impingement.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Anatomy

Background:

• Anterior ankle impingement presents as pain during activity, often due to recurrent dorsiflexion, with tenderness at the joint line.
• Posterior ankle impingement causes hindfoot pain with plantarflexion, frequently linked to trauma or overuse in athletes like dancers and runners.

Purpose of the Study:

• To differentiate and describe the diagnostic methods for anterior and posterior ankle impingement.
• To outline the surgical and arthroscopic management strategies and their outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Clinical examination including palpation and assessment of range of motion.
• Radiographic evaluation, including standard views and specific views like the anteromedial impingement (AMI) view.
• Arthroscopic or surgical intervention for bony or soft tissue impingement and associated conditions.

Main Results:

• Arthroscopic removal of impingement tissue yields 83% good-to-excellent long-term results for anterior impingement (grades 0-I) and 50% for grade II.
• Surgical management of posterior impingement, including os trigonum removal, offers good-to-excellent results in 80% of patients with short recovery times.

Conclusions:

• Accurate diagnosis through clinical and radiographic assessment is crucial for effective treatment of anterior and posterior ankle impingement.
• Both arthroscopic and surgical interventions provide favorable long-term outcomes for ankle impingement syndromes.