Surgical Modalities versus Conservative Treatment for Acute Injuries of Lateral Ligament of Ankle

Abstract

Abstract Background Acute ankle sprain is a very common injury which comprises 80% of all ankle injuries. Acute ankle sprain affects almost exclusively the lateral ligamentous complex including ATFL followed by CFL, while PTFL is rarely of clinical significance. Objective To study the clinical trials in a Meta-analytical form, in order to compare surgical versus conservative treatments for the management of acute injuries of the lateral ligament complex of the ankle. Materials and Methods We performed this systematic review and meta-analysis in accordance to the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and Meta-analyses Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) statements. PRISMA and MOOSE are reporting checklists for Authors, Editors, and Reviewers of Meta-analyses of interventional and observational studies. Results In the present study, we searched Medline via PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) from their inception till April 2019. The search retrieved 702 unique records. We then retained 48 potentially eligible records for full-texts screening. Finally, 14 studies (Total No. of patients=1896) were included in the present systematic review and meta-analysis Conclusion: Starting a physiotherapy programme as early as possible is essential to control pain and swelling, to improve and maintain the range of motion, and to minimize the risk of stiffness and muscle wasting, which are the two decisive factors which delay patients from returning to their normal activities. Regardless of severity, surgery for acute ankle sprain is not recommended anymore.