Isolated syndesmosis ankle injury

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Radiology

Background:

• Isolated syndesmosis injuries are frequently misdiagnosed as lateral ankle sprains, leading to delayed treatment and chronic ankle instability.
• The incidence of these injuries ranges from 1% to 16% in acute ankle sprains, increasing significantly with prolonged disability.
• Diagnostic challenges include subtle radiographic findings, necessitating advanced imaging or arthroscopy for accurate diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the clinical presentation, classification, and surgical stabilization of isolated syndesmosis injuries.
• To evaluate the efficacy of arthroscopic debridement and syndesmotic screw stabilization for these injuries.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical presentation and classification of isolated syndesmosis injuries.
• Description of arthroscopic debridement and syndesmotic screw fixation technique.
• Postoperative evaluation of 4 patients using subjective and objective assessment scales at 1 year.

Main Results:

• Three out of four patients experienced significant improvement in subjective ankle symptoms and instability.
• High scores were reported on the Sports Ankle Rating System postoperatively.
• Arthroscopic stabilization demonstrated positive functional recovery in the majority of patients.

Conclusions:

• Isolated syndesmosis injuries require specific diagnostic considerations due to their disabling nature.
• Arthroscopic stabilization with syndesmotic screw fixation appears to be an effective treatment option for improving ankle function and stability.
• Further research with larger cohorts is warranted to confirm these findings.