Reconstruction for lateral instability of the ankle

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Anatomy

Background:

• Ankle lateral instability is a common and disabling condition in young athletes.
• Conservative treatments for ankle instability often fail, necessitating surgical intervention.
• Reconstruction of the anterior fibulotalar and fibulocalcaneal ligaments is a key surgical approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of the Chrisman and Snook surgical procedure for treating chronic ankle lateral instability in young athletes.
• To assess the long-term outcomes and return to sports participation following this ligament reconstruction.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study involving eleven young athletes with chronic ankle lateral instability.
• Surgical reconstruction using the Chrisman and Snook technique, focusing on anterior fibulotalar and fibulocalcaneal ligaments.
• Follow-up assessment of patient outcomes for over two years post-surgery.

Main Results:

• The Chrisman and Snook procedure demonstrated predictably good results in the studied cohort.
• Patients experienced significant improvement in ankle stability.
• A high rate of return to full sports activities was observed.

Conclusions:

• The Chrisman and Snook ligament reconstruction is an effective surgical option for young athletes with disabling ankle instability.
• This procedure offers predictable good results and facilitates a return to pre-injury levels of athletic activity.
• Surgical management should be considered when conservative measures fail to resolve ankle instability in this population.