[Progress on diagnosis and treatment for chronic ankle instability]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a prevalent condition frequently stemming from inadequate diagnosis or treatment of acute ankle sprains.
• CAI can precipitate persistent pain, post-traumatic arthritis, and functional deficits, significantly impacting quality of life.
• Established diagnostic criteria and standardized treatment protocols for CAI remain elusive, complicating clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current diagnostic modalities for CAI, including imaging techniques.
• To explore the evolving landscape of surgical interventions for CAI, emphasizing the transition from non-anatomical to anatomical reconstruction.
• To provide clarity on the varied surgical approaches and their reported clinical efficacies.

Main Methods:

• Review of diagnostic tools such as X-ray, MRI, and ultrasound for CAI assessment.
• Analysis of surgical techniques employed in treating CAI, contrasting non-anatomical repairs with anatomical reconstructions.
• Synthesis of reported clinical outcomes associated with different surgical strategies.

Main Results:

• Diagnostic methods like X-ray, MRI, and ultrasound are utilized, though a definitive standard is lacking.
• Surgical intervention is the primary treatment for CAI, with numerous techniques available.
• A notable trend in surgical management is the shift from non-anatomical repair to anatomical reconstruction.

Conclusions:

• The management of chronic ankle instability necessitates standardized diagnostic and treatment approaches.
• Anatomical reconstruction is increasingly favored over non-anatomical repair in the surgical treatment of CAI.
• Further research is needed to establish optimal surgical techniques and evaluate their long-term efficacy.