Proprioception and neuromuscular control at return to sport after ankle surgery with the modified Broström procedure

Both arthroscopic one-step Broström-Gould and Lasso-loop stitch techniques achieved favourable clinical outcomes for chronic lateral ankle instability

PURPOSE

Both the arthroscopic Broström-Gould and Lasso-loop stitch techniques are commonly used to treat chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI). The purpose of this study is to introduce an arthroscopic one-step outside-in Broström-Gould (AOBG) technique and compare the mid-term outcomes of the AOBG technique and Lasso-loop stitch technique.

METHODS

All CLAI patients who underwent arthroscopic lateral ankle stabilization surgery in our department from 2018 to 2019 were retrospectively enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups according to the surgical methods employed: the AOBG technique (Group A) and the Lasso-loop technique (Group B). The visual analogue scale pain score, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle hindfoot score, Tegner activity score and Karlsson-Peterson score were evaluated preoperatively and during the follow-up from June to December 2022. The surgical duration, return to sports, sprain recurrence and surgical complications were also recorded and compared.

RESULTS

A total of 74 patients (Group A, n = 42; Group B, n = 32) were included in this study with a mean follow-up of 39 months. No statistically significant differences were observed in demographic parameters or follow-up time between the two groups. Postoperative clinical scores indicated a significant improvement (all with p < 0.001) with no significant difference between the two groups (not significant [n.s.]). There was no significant difference in the surgical duration (46.1 vs. 49.7 min, n.s.), return to sports (92.9% vs. 93.8%, n.s.), or sprain recurrence (4.8% vs. 6.3%, n.s.). Only two cases in Group A reported knot irritation (4.8% vs. 0, n.s.), and one case in Group A experienced local skin numbness (0 vs. 3.1%, n.s.), with no significant difference.

CONCLUSION

Both the AOBG and Lasso-loop stitch techniques yielded comparable favourable mid-term outcomes and return to sports with a low rate of surgical complications. Both procedures could be feasible strategies for CLAI patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III.

Clinical Outcomes and Return to Preinjury Sports After Anatomic Reconstruction With a Gracilis Autograft Versus the Modified Broström Procedure in Patients With Generalized Joint Laxity

Background

Generalized joint laxity (GJL) is a risk factor for inferior outcomes after the modified Broström procedure for chronic lateral ankle instability, while anatomic reconstruction with tendons is more inclined to be recommended. However, whether anatomic reconstruction could achieve better results than the modified Broström procedure in patients with GJL is unknown.

Purpose

To compare clinical outcomes and return to sports between anatomic reconstruction and the modified Broström procedure in patients with GJL.

Study Design

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

Patients with GJL (Beighton score ≥4) who underwent either the modified Broström procedure or anatomic reconstruction with gracilis autografts between 2017 and 2020 were reviewed. Included were 19 patients who underwent anatomic reconstruction (reconstruction group) and 49 patients who underwent the modified Broström procedure (MBP group). Clinical outcomes were compared using the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and the Karlsson score. The rates of return to preinjury level in high-demand sports, sprain recurrence, and range of motion between the 2 groups were also compared.

Results

The mean follow-up duration was 38.3 months in the reconstruction group and 43.7 months in the MBP group. The FAOS and Karlsson scores improved significantly after surgery in both groups (P < .001 for all), with the reconstruction group having significantly higher postoperative FAOS-Sports scores (87.9 ± 8.9 vs 80.5 ± 11.6; P = .015) and Karlsson scores (86.9 ± 6.1 vs 82 ± 8.4; P = .025) than the MBP group. The rate of return to preinjury high-demand sports was higher in the reconstruction group than in the MBP group (73.3% vs 38.9%; P = .034). The MBP group had a significantly higher rate of sprain recurrence (22.4% vs 0%; P = .027). More patients reported dorsiflexion restriction in the reconstruction group (n = 4; 21.1%) than in the MBP group (n = 1; 2%) (P = .019); nonetheless, there was no noticeable effect on daily life and sports.

Conclusion

Better clinical outcomes, less sprain recurrence, and a higher rate of return to preinjury high-demand sports were found after anatomic reconstruction with free tendons compared with the modified Broström procedure in patients with GJL. Anatomic tendon reconstruction can be recommended for such patients, especially those participating in high-demand sports.

Insufficient recovery of proprioception in chronic ankle instability after surgical restabilization: A systematic review

Surgical repair or reconstruction of the lateral ligaments for patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI) could, logically, restore the proprioception of ankle through retensing receptors. To validate this hypothesis, seven databases were systematically searched, and thirteen studies comprising a total of 347 patients with CAI were included. Although five studies reported improved proprioceptive outcomes after surgeries, the other five studies with between-limb/group comparisons reported residual deficits at final follow-up, which does not consistently support proprioceptive recovery after existing surgical restabilization for CAI. More controlled studies are needed to provide evidence-based protocols to improve proprioceptive recovery after ankle restabilization for CAI.

Effectiveness of the Rehabilitation Training Combined with Maitland Mobilization for the Treatment of Chronic Ankle Instability: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The study aims to determine whether routine rehabilitation training combined with the Maitland mobilization is more effective than routine rehabilitation training alone in patients with chronic ankle instability, intending to provide a novel rehabilitation strategy for chronic ankle instability. A total of 48 subjects were divided into three groups: EG (Maitland mobilization and routine rehabilitation), CG (routine rehabilitation), and SG (sham mobilization and routine rehabilitation). The intervention was performed three times each week for 4 weeks, for a total of 12 sessions. Before and after the intervention, the muscle strength, star excursion balance test (SEBT), weight-bearing dorsiflexion range of motion (WB-DFROM), ankle range of movement, Cumberland ankle instability tool (CAIT), self-comfort visual analog scale (SCS-VAS), and self-induced stability scale (SISS-VAS) were assessed. The results showed that the improvement of SEBT, WB-DFROM, and active ankle range of movement without the pain in EG was more obvious than CG and SG, but the improvement of the self-report of ankle severity and muscle strength was not. Compared with routine rehabilitation training alone, routine rehabilitation training combined with Maitland mobilization for patients with chronic ankle instability may provide more benefit in terms of balance and ankle range of movement than routine rehabilitation alone, but the improvement in muscle strength was not evident enough.

Arthroscopic modified Broström procedure achieves faster return to sports than open procedure for chronic ankle instability

PURPOSE

To compare the clinical outcomes, rate of return to sports, postural control, and muscle strength between the arthroscopic and open modified Broström procedure for chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) patients.

METHODS

From September 2018 to April 2019, 70 patients diagnosed with CLAI were prospectively included with arthroscopic modified Broström procedure (n = 36) and open modified Broström procedure (n = 34). They were evaluated at five time points (preoperation and 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years postoperatively). The main results examined the rate of return to sports, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Score (AOFAS), Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), visual analogue scale (VAS), centre of pressure (COP) excursion velocity, time to boundary (TTB), plantar pressure, isokinetic muscle strength and complications.

RESULTS

Compared with the open group, the arthroscopic group demonstrated a significantly shorter period of return to the preinjury sport (13.2 ± 2.4 weeks vs. 18.7 ± 3.1 weeks, P = 0.023) and a higher early sport ratio (80.6 vs. 61.8%, P = 0.011) combined with better FAAM sports and AOFAS at 3 months and 6 months postoperatively and VAS at 3 months postoperatively. In addition, better anterior-posterior postural control stability, less time to peak force under lateral hindfoot and better dorsiflexion strength were shown in the arthroscopic group at 6 months postoperatively. No significant difference was found in clinical scores, posture control or muscle strength at the 1- or 2-year follow-up between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Shorter period and higher rates of return to sport activities and better clinical scores, posture control and muscle strength were achieved in the arthroscopic group at 6 months postoperatively, and no clinical differences were found between arthroscopic and open modified Broström procedure 1 year or 2 years postoperatively. Arthroscopic modified Broström procedure is a reliable procedure for CLAI injuries with the demand for fast exercise recovery.

CLINICAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR1900023999.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

II.