Clinical results and functional evaluation of the Chrisman-Snook procedure for lateral ankle instability in athletes

There is no consensus regarding optimum surgical treatment for chronic ankle instability. The purpose of this study is to describe a variation of the Chrisman-Snook lateral ligament reconstruction that the senior author uses in patients with chronic ankle instability recalcitrant to conservative management. All patients who underwent reconstruction from 1997 to 2006 were identified, and those with a minimum 2-year follow-up were included, representing a total of 44 ankles in 43 patients. All underwent clinical evaluation and completion of the Foot and Ankle Outcome Survey and the Kaikkonen Scale. At mean follow-up of 4.4 years, mean dorsiflexion loss was 2° compared with the nonoperative side. The postoperative mean Foot and Ankle Outcome Survey score was 74 ± 16 (range, 36-98), while the mean Kaikkonen total score was 77 ± 14 (range, 40-95). Thirty-eight patients (84.6%) were satisfied with their result. Six patients (13.6%) underwent reoperation, including 4 with peroneal tendon scarring requiring tenolysis. Return to sport was achieved in 28 of 35 patients (80%) at a median of 6 months postoperatively. It is concluded that dorsiflexion loss can be minimized and return to sport expected in most patients following this variation of the Chrisman-Snook reconstruction.