Chronic ankle instability: Arthroscopic anatomical repair

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Anatomy

Background:

• Ankle sprains are common, with 20-40% developing chronic instability and pain.
• Anterior talofibular ligament rupture occurs in 75-80% of cases.
• Persistent symptoms necessitate effective treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes of arthroscopic anatomical repair for chronic ankle instability.
• To assess the rate of return to sport and complication incidence.
• To investigate the efficacy of this surgical technique for anterior talofibular ligament injuries.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective observational study of 21 patients (15 male, 6 female) aged 18-48.
• Mean follow-up of 29 months after arthroscopic anatomical repair of the anterior talofibular ligament.
• Inclusion of treatment for associated injuries like osteochondral lesions and impingement.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores from 66.12 pre-surgery to 96.95 post-surgery.
• All patients returned to previous sport activities within a mean of 21.5 weeks.
• A low complication rate of 14% (3 patients) was observed.

Conclusions:

• Arthroscopic anatomical ligament repair provides excellent clinical-functional results for chronic ankle instability.
• The technique facilitates a rapid return to sport.
• It offers a safe and effective surgical option with a low complication rate.