Ankle and syndesmosis instability: consensus and controversies

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Anatomy

Background:

• Ankle sprains, if untreated, can lead to chronic instability, pain, and osteoarthritis.
• Medial and syndesmotic ankle injuries are often overlooked but significantly impact long-term joint health.
• Deltoid ligament ruptures can cause hindfoot deformity if not managed promptly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To emphasize the importance of accurate diagnosis and timely treatment of ankle instabilities.
• To highlight specific acute ankle injuries requiring early surgical intervention.
• To discuss the evolving role of arthroscopy in managing complex ankle instabilities.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on ankle sprain management.
• Analysis of treatment outcomes for conservative versus surgical approaches.
• Evaluation of diagnostic and therapeutic applications of ankle arthroscopy.

Main Results:

• Chronic ankle instability can result from untreated lateral, syndesmotic, or medial lesions.
• Unstable syndesmotic injuries necessitate surgical management.
• Multi-ligament injuries often require early surgical repair for optimal outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment, including surgery for specific instabilities, are essential for preventing chronic ankle problems.
• Ankle arthroscopy is increasingly vital for diagnosing and treating complex ankle instabilities.
• Early surgical intervention for acute syndesmotic and multi-ligament injuries improves outcomes.