[Anterior ankle impingement: follow-up in 52 cases]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Ankle Arthroscopy

Background:

• Anterior ankle impingement is a frequent condition in athletes, characterized by anterior ankle pain and limited dorsiflexion.
• Often associated with inversion injuries, particularly during activities like soccer.
• Symptoms include pain and restricted ankle movement, impacting athletic performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical outcomes of arthroscopic treatment for anterior ankle impingement.
• To assess patient-reported pain, functional status, and satisfaction at a minimum one-year follow-up.
• To determine the time to return to sport after arthroscopic intervention.

Main Methods:

• An observational, descriptive, prospective, and longitudinal study.
• Involved 52 consecutive patients undergoing anterior ankle arthroscopy.
• Evaluated pain using a numeric scale, alongside functional outcomes (AOFAS, SFMCP) and patient satisfaction.

Main Results:

• Significant reduction in pain scores from 5.75 to 0.98.
• Substantial improvement in functional scales: AOFAS from 73.65 to 92.98 and SFMCP from 72.44 to 94.48.
• 44.23% of patients returned to their previous sport level within 4-7 months post-surgery.

Conclusions:

• Arthroscopic treatment for anterior ankle impingement yields significant clinical improvements at 12 months.
• Patients experience notable pain reduction and enhanced ankle function.
• Return to pre-injury sports levels is achievable within 4-7 months for a considerable number of athletes.