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Arthroscopic all-inside anterior talo-fibular ligament repair with suture augmentation gives excellent results in case of poor ligament tissue remnant quality

  • Ankle
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

An increasing role of arthroscopy as the definitive treatment for ankle instability has been reported, and assisted or all-arthroscopic techniques have been developed. However, treatment of chronic ankle instability with poor remnant ligament-tissue quality is still challenging. The aim of this study was to describe the technique and report the results of the arthroscopic ATFL all-inside repair with suture augmentation to treat patients with poor remnant ligament-tissue quality.

Methods

Fifteen patients [9 men and 6 women, median age 30 (19–47) years] with chronic ankle instability and poor remnant ligament-tissue quality were treated by arthroscopic means after failing non-operative management. Median follow-up was 18 (12–23) months. Through an arthroscopic all-inside technique, and using a suture passer and two knotless anchors, the ligament was repaired. Then, the anchor’s residual suture limbs were not cut, but were recycled and used for augmentation of the ligament repair.

Results

Arthroscopic examination demonstrated an isolated anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) injury with poor remnant ligament tissue in the 15 patients. All patients reported subjective improvement in their ankle instability after the arthroscopic all-inside ligaments repair and suture augmentation. The median AOFAS score increased from 66 (44–87) preoperatively to 100 (85–100) at the final follow-up.

Conclusion

Chronic ankle instability with poor remnant ligament-tissue quality can be successfully treated by an arthroscopic all-inside repair and suture augmentation of the ligament. The clinical relevance of the study is the description of the first arthroscopic all-inside anatomic ATFL repair with suture augmentation that offers the benefit of maintaining the native ligament while reinforcing the repair, especially in patients with poor remnant ligament-tissue quality.

Level of evidence

IV, retrospective case series

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Funding

The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Arthroscopic and Surgical Anatomy, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics (Human Anatomy Unit), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Jordi Vega & Miki Dalmau-Pastor

  2. Foot and Ankle Unit, Hospital Quirón Barcelona, and iMove Tres Torres, Barcelona, Spain

    Jordi Vega & Albert Baduell

  3. Groupe de Recherche et d’Etude en Chirurgie Mini-Invasive du Pied (GRECMIP), Merignac, France

    Jordi Vega & Miki Dalmau-Pastor

  4. Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Clinique CIC Riviera, Clarens, Vaud, Switzerland

    Erik Montesinos

  5. Foot and Ankle Unit, Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK

    Francesc Malagelada

  6. Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology, Hospital of Figueres-Fundació Salut Empordà, Figueres, Girona, Spain

    Albert Baduell

  7. Foot and Ankle Unit, Clinica Montallegro, Genoa, Italy

    Matteo Guelfi

  8. Faculty of Health Sciences at Manresa, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, Manresa, Barcelona, Spain

    Miki Dalmau-Pastor

Authors
  1. Jordi Vega
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  2. Erik Montesinos
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  3. Francesc Malagelada
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  4. Albert Baduell
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  6. Miki Dalmau-Pastor
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Correspondence to Jordi Vega.

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The study was approved by the Ethical committee of the institution.

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Patients were informed, and they consented to conduct the study.

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Vega, J., Montesinos, E., Malagelada, F. et al. Arthroscopic all-inside anterior talo-fibular ligament repair with suture augmentation gives excellent results in case of poor ligament tissue remnant quality. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 28, 100–107 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-018-5117-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-018-5117-x

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