A review of lateral ankle ligamentous reconstructions

We have performed on ongoing retrospective and prospective multi-institutional review of 50 patients who underwent 53 lateral ligamentous reconstructive procedures of the ankle. The point grading system used for postoperative evaluation of our patients allowed for classification of functional activity. The grading system included evaluation of the patient's return to preinjury activities and athletics, degree of pain, degree of swelling, number of recurrent sprains, and any disability that the patient incurred secondary to the tendon transfer. Preoperative and postoperative stress radiographs were obtained to evaluate the talar tilt angle. Of our 53 lateral ankle ligamentous reconstructions, we consider 45 to be excellent, with the patients returning to full activity and athletics. Our results show no statistically significant difference in long-term function among the five ligamentous repairs employed in this series (Pearson Chi-square test; chi 2 = 2.30, df = 4, P = 0.68). No correlation could be made between the long-term clinical response of the various procedures and the postoperative talar tilt angle. We conclude that lateral ligamentous reconstructive repairs of the ankle are indicated, and that good or excellent clinical results, greater than 91%, can be obtained with any of the five reconstructive procedures, performed correctly.