Distraction-free ankle arthroscopy for anterolateral impingement

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Chronic pain after ankle sprains often stems from anterolateral synovitis, leading to impingement.
• Arthroscopic partial synovectomy is a potential treatment, but its feasibility without joint distraction is questioned.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of arthroscopic debridement for anterolateral ankle impingement without joint distraction.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 24 patients with soft tissue anterolateral ankle impingement.
• Arthroscopic debridement and joint lavage performed using simple dorsiflexion, without distraction.
• Exclusion of patients with bone or joint diseases.

Main Results:

• All patients achieved good to excellent Kitaoka scores post-surgery.
• Significant improvements in pain, edema, and return to sports were observed.
• No septic complications or algodystrophy occurred; two transient hypoesthesias resolved within 6 months.

Conclusions:

• Arthroscopic treatment of anterolateral ankle impingement is feasible and effective using only simple dorsiflexion.
• This technique offers significant benefits for pain relief and functional recovery with a low complication rate.