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Extensor retinaculum flaps for ankle instability yield good 11-year outcomes
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SAN DIEGO – Researchers found good outcomes using ligamentous retensioning and extensor retinaculum flaps to treat patients with chronic ankle instability, according to a study presented at the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting, here.
“Ankle sprains are a very common injury and unfortunately they are not all benign,” study presenter Paul J. Moroney, MD, FRCSI (Tr & Orth) said. “Instability chronically is reported in up to 20% of cases.”
Moroney and colleagues conducted a retrospective study of 150 patients over an 11-year period. Outcomes were assessed using the Karlsson score, with varus tilt and anterior draw measured through stress X-rays and osteoarthritis being classified via Van Dijk classifications.
According to Moroney, average anterior draw decreased from 2 mm preoperatively to 0.17 mm postoperatively. Talar tilt dropped from 8° preoperatively to 0.12° postoperatively. The mean final Karlsson score was 94.8. Ninety-three percent of patients were satisfied with the procedure, he reported, and 95.2% of patients were reported stable at follow-up.
“This technique stabilizes the tibial talar and subtalar joints,” Moroney said. “It has a high rate of patient satisfaction and a low rate of residual instability. It is a retrospective study with no control group. However, with a large cohort and a long follow-up, we support the use of the extensor retinaculum flap in treatment of chronic ankle instability.”
Reference:
Moroney PJ, Tourné Y, Mabit C, Saragaglia D. Chronic ankle instability: Long-term follow-up of lateral reconstruction using the extensor retinaculum flap. A report of 150 cases. Presented at the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society 2012 Annual Meeting. June 21-23. San Diego.
Disclosure: Moroney has no relevant financial disclosures.