[Weber fibular ligament-plasty with plantar tendon with Segesser modification]

Ankle joint injuries are one of the most frequently diagnosed sports injuries. In our clinic we observed between 1981-92 18% ankle joint injuries in 11.350 patients. The acute injury was generally handled conservatively by functional treatment with a special shoe; only comminute injuries like fractures, luxations or tendon injuries would lead to the decision to perform surgery. The ratio of acutely performed surgery compared to late surgery was decreasing: 1981 1:3, compared to 1992 1:50. Reconstructive surgery of the lateral ligament complex is indicated under the following conditions: patient suffering from recurrent trauma and feeling of instability and/ or in case of comminuted overuse injuries caused by instability like the entrapment of the tibial nerve in the tarsal tunnel, achilodynia caused by instability of the rearfoot or luxation of the peroneal tendons. Reconstruction of the lateral ligaments of the ankle should be done anatomically, operations with effect of tenodesis should be avoided.

We modified the technique of Weber to reconstruct the lateral ligaments. An autograft (plantaris tendon) is used for this procedure. The plantaris tendon is removed through a medial sided minimal incision on the injured leg with a special stripper. Through the lateral incision on the lateral malleolus drill wholes are made at the anatomical ligament insertions of the calcaneus, talus and fibula. The graft is passed through the drill wholes this way the Lcf and Ltfa are anatomically reconstructed. The tendon sheat of the peroneal tendons will be closed if needed with residual plantaris tendon. The postoperative treatment is the same as conservative treatment with full-weight-bearing in a special shoe three days after surgery with 30 degrees (10-0-20) range of motion. ROM will be increased to 50 degrees after three weeks. For the first three weeks the leg will be positioned in a 90 degrees splint over night. Two series of patients altogether 584 patients in the time from 1981-1991 were operated. The difference of the two groups lied in the technique of surgery (in group 2 the calcaneofibular ligament was reconstructed as well as the peroneal tendon sheat) as well as the postoperative treatment was altered (group one removable cast for the first three weeks versus functional treatment after surgery in group 2 as described in the postop treatment).

443 (76%) out of 584 operated patients were followed at least one year after OP. Working ability: 19% (group 1)/25% (group 2) of the patients after two weeks, 31/42% after 2-4 weeks and 79/88% after 4-6 weeks. Full sports activity to previous sport 8/17% after 4-6 weeks, 26/38% after 6-8 weeks, 65/70% after 8-12 weeks. The group 2 achieved full sports activity and working ability on average two weeks before the patients of group one. Personal evaluation: 88/90% felt their ankle joint to be more stable postoperatively, 10/9% as stable as before and 2/1% described it as less stable. Clinical evaluation: The modified Benedetto score showed in 76/81% very good results, in 9/7% good and 13/8% bad results. In conclusion the described reconstruction of the fibular ligaments without damaging the active stabilizing muscles is a valid technique. The reconstruction of the calcaneofibular ligament improved the long term results of surgery. The functional postoperative rehabilitation (special shoe and night brace) does shorten the time for the patients working ability as well as the return to full sports activity. The long term results on the other hand appeared to be similar for both groups. The advantage of our technique using the plantaris tendon as a graft. The use of autograft material having the same tensile strength as the original ligaments anatomically reconstructed. Surgery with tenodesis effects should be abandoned. The good results occurring while performing late surgery leave the chance for primary conservative treatment of lateral ligament injuries.