Surgical revision after failed lateral ankle reconstruction

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Recurrent symptomatic instability of the ankle often occurs after primary ligament reconstruction failure.
• Conservative treatments like physical therapy and bracing may not resolve persistent ankle instability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of revision ankle ligament reconstruction in patients with failed primary reconstructions.
• To assess functional recovery and clinical stability following revision surgery.

Main Methods:

• Ten patients underwent revision ankle ligament reconstruction between 1989 and 1994.
• Procedures included modified Elmslie (Sammarco-DiRaimondo) and Brostrom-Gould techniques, with seven cases utilizing tendon grafts.
• Average follow-up was 14 months post-revision surgery.

Main Results:

• All patients achieved clinical ankle stability after revision reconstruction.
• Ninety percent of patients returned to their previous functional level.
• Two patients experienced minimal post-operative pain; one developed mononeuritis multiplex.

Conclusions:

• Revision ankle ligament reconstruction yields favorable outcomes, comparable to primary reconstructions.
• It is a suitable option for selected patients experiencing recurrent ankle instability unresponsive to conservative management.
• The procedure effectively restores function and stability in cases of failed primary ankle ligament repair.