Activity Level and Function After Lateral Ankle Ligament Repair Versus Reconstruction.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Sports medicine
• Anatomy

Background:

• Lateral ankle instability often requires surgical intervention.
• Few studies directly compare Broström-Gould repair with allograft reconstruction outcomes.
• Understanding comparative effectiveness is crucial for treatment selection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare functional outcomes and revision rates between Broström-Gould lateral ankle ligament repair and anatomic allograft reconstruction.
• To evaluate patient-reported outcomes, including pain, function, and satisfaction.
• To determine if one technique offers superior results for chronic lateral ankle instability.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study (Level of evidence, 3) included 86 patients undergoing surgical repair or reconstruction of lateral ankle ligaments.
• Patients were assessed at a minimum of 2 years post-surgery using validated outcome scores (FADI, AOFAS, Lysholm, WOMAC, SF-12) and activity scales (Tegner).
• Surgical data were documented, and outcomes were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were observed in FADI, AOFAS, Lysholm, WOMAC, SF-12 PCS/MCS scores, Tegner activity, or patient satisfaction between the repair and reconstruction groups.
• Both cohorts reported high functional outcomes and patient satisfaction.
• Crucially, no patients in either the repair or reconstruction group required revision lateral ligament surgery.

Conclusions:

• Anatomic allograft reconstruction for lateral ankle instability yields outcomes comparable to Broström-Gould repair.
• Both surgical techniques demonstrate high patient satisfaction, functional recovery, and activity levels.
• Neither method showed a higher rate of revision surgery, suggesting comparable long-term efficacy.