Posterior Hindfoot Endoscopy in Athletes

Abstract

BackgroundPosterior ankle and hindfoot arthroscopy finds an increasing acceptance as treatment option for intraarticular and extraarticular pathologies. The purpose of this study was to address the efficacy of posterior ankle and hindfoot endoscopy in athletes. Materials and MethodsSeventeen patients with a mean age of 27.9±4.3 years treated by posterior ankle and hindfoot endoscopy were included into this retrospective study. The average duration of follow-up was 5.4±1.3 years. Clinical outcomes were assessed with use of a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain and the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot score. Furthermore, preoperative and postoperative levels of sports activity were analyzed. ResultsThe preoperative diagnoses were painful os trigonum, posterior ankle impingement, flexor hallucis longus tendinits and peroneal tendon impingement in 9, 4, 3, and 1 cases, respectively. There were no intraoperative complications. The average VAS score for pain decreased significantly from 5.6±0.9 (range, 4 – 7) preoperatively to 0.6±1.0 (range, 0 – 4) postoperatively (p<0.001). The average AOFAS hindfoot score increased significantly from 60.7±11.1 (range, 36 – 72) preoperatively to 92.4±10.3 (range, 61 – 100) postoperatively (p<0.001). All patients had sports activities at the latest follow-up, 13 patients (76.5%) returned to their sports activity level they had before onset of hindfoot symptoms. ConclusionsPosterior ankle and hindfoot arthroscopy in athletes is associated with a low risk of intraoperative and postoperative complications and leads to significant pain relief, good functional results, and return to sports activities. Level of EvidenceIV