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All-inside arthroscopic ankle stabilization allowed all patients studied to return to sport
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BARCELONA — An arthroscopic procedure to treat ankles that were unstable following repetitive sprains was associated with consistent return to sport and few complications among patients at a mean follow-up of 2.5 years, according to a presenter.
At the European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy Congress, here, Elena Vacas presented results of the single-surgeon series of 21 patients who had unstable ankles following multiple sprains, were evaluated following all-inside arthroscopic anatomical repair of the anterior talotibial ligament and had their information collected in a database.
The patients, who were operated on between May 2012 and January 2013, had a mean age of 30 years. There were 15 men in the cohort and 12 right and nine left ankles. Patients were included if they had continued problems for a maximum of 3 months after a sprain, with an overall course of problems that lasted no longer than 9 months.
“All-inside arthroscopic anatomical repair technique has excellent clinical and functional outcomes, and patients returned to their previous sport activity in a short period of time with a low percentage of complications. Arthroscopy allows us to treat associated injuries at the same surgical time with less soft tissue damage and excellent postoperative recovery,” Vacas said.
Three patients presented with postoperative complications. These involved one case each of joint stiffness, superficial skin infection and superficial peroneal neuropathy.
“All cases showed a good mid-term recovery,” she said of the patients with complications.
Vacas said the arthroscopic procedure used produces a stable ankle because it involves two tunnels. It also enables the surgeon to check and correct the quality of the ligament tissue intraoperatively. – by Susan M. Rapp
Reference:
Arroyo Hernandez M, et al. Paper #FP07-6193. Presented at: European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy Congress; May 4-7, 2016; Barcelona.
Disclosure: Healio.com/Orthopedics was unable to determine relevant financial disclosures for Vacas.