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Is arthroscopic surgery as successful as open approach in the treatment of lateral ankle instability?

  • Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the clinical results of arthroscopic repair and open Ahlgren–Larsson method in patients with chronic lateral ankle instability.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated 60 patients who were operated in our clinic between 2010 and 2018 with the diagnosis of chronic lateral ankle instability. Preoperative and postoperative clinical evaluations were performed with AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score, FAOS, and VAS scores.

Results

Sixty patients with chronic lateral ankle instability were evaluated. 28 patients were treated with Ahlgren–Larsson method, and 32 patients were treated with arthroscopic repair. Follow-up duration was 35 ± 12 months for the open surgery group and 19 ± 2 months for the arthroscopic surgery group. The mean age of the arthroscopy group was 44 ± 9; the mean age of the open surgery group was 46 ± 11. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of demographic features (age, sex, BMI). Postoperative clinical improvement was observed in both groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of functionality. However, there was a statistically significant difference in VAS in terms of pain and patient satisfaction in favor of arthroscopy group.

Conclusions

Ahlgren–Larsson method and arthroscopic repair technique are safe and effective for chronic lateral ankle instability. Arthroscopic technique may be preferred for pain and patient satisfaction as it is less invasive and less morbid.

Level of evidence

II.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Oncology Hospital, 06430, Ankara, Turkey

    Coskun Ulucakoy

  2. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Dr. Sami Ulus Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Ahmet Yigit Kaptan

  3. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Toygun Kagan Eren

  4. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Kelkit State Hospital, Gumushane, Turkey

    Ali Eren

  5. Gazi University Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Ankara, Ankara, Turkey

    Sevim Beyza Olmez

  6. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Muhammet Baybars Ataoglu & Ulunay Kanatli

Authors
  1. Coskun Ulucakoy
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  2. Ahmet Yigit Kaptan
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  3. Toygun Kagan Eren
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  4. Ali Eren
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  5. Sevim Beyza Olmez
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  6. Muhammet Baybars Ataoglu
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  7. Ulunay Kanatli
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Coskun Ulucakoy.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Ulucakoy, C., Kaptan, A.Y., Eren, T.K. et al. Is arthroscopic surgery as successful as open approach in the treatment of lateral ankle instability?. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 141, 1551–1557 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-021-03799-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-021-03799-y

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