What should we be careful of ankle arthroscopy?

Ankle arthroscopy has been used as a standard tool by foot and ankle surgeons. To overcome the narrowness of ankle joint, a noninvasive distraction technique is used for the successful visualization in ankle arthroscopy. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and type of complications associated with ankle arthroscopy using a noninvasive distraction technique and to report a troublesome complication.

We reviewed 514 patients' charts from 2003 to 2011. The same noninvasive distraction technique was used. Patients' demography, duration of follow-up, diagnoses, procedures, and complications related to ankle arthroscopy were analyzed.

There were 388 male and 126 female; mean age was 37.2 years; mean follow-up duration was 33 months. The diagnoses were osteochondral lesion of talus, chronic ankle instability, anterolateral soft tissue impingement syndrome, and anterior bony impingement. We performed arthroscopic synovectomy, osteochondral procedure, bony spur excision, and loose body removal. The mean time of arthroscopic procedure was 47 min. There were neurologic complications (eight cases), skin necrosis of posterior thigh (three cases), instrument breakage (two cases), and superficial wound infection (one case). All complications were well resolved. The total duration of distraction plus tourniquet inflation exceeded 120 min in the three cases of skin necrosis. Skin necrosis was deemed to be resulted from the long tourniquet time.

The noninvasive distraction technique is safe and effective for ankle arthroscopy. However, the distraction plus tourniquet requires attention because it can cause high pressure on posterior thigh resulting in soft tissue injury.