Anterior Bony Impingement Research Articles

Anterior Ankle Impingement Syndrome With Spur Fragmentation: Is It an Os Talotibiale?

Bone fragments are often found in ankles with anterior bony impingement. However, whether they are detached osteophytes or accessory bones remains unknown. Among the 66 continuously enrolled cases of ankles with anterior bony impingement, 32 had a fragment located at the anterior margin of the tibia. The cases of posterior impingement, lateral instability, osteochondral lesions, or free bodies simultaneously treated were excluded. The enrolled subjects were classified into 2 groups: ankles without (group A) and with remarkable spurs (group B). The patients' backgrounds, location of the fragments, clinical scores, and other parameters required to resume sports were compared. The Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot (JSSF) ankle rating scale was used to evaluate preoperative and postoperative ankle conditions, and the Self-Administered Foot Evaluation Questionnaire (SAFE-Q) was used to evaluate postoperative sports abilities. Eight (seven subjects) and 11 ankles were classified into groups A and B, respectively, and the mean age of the 18 patients was 25.4 (range, 16-37) years. No statistical differences in patient backgrounds or fragment sizes between the groups existed. In group A, the fragments were located on the lateral plateau in 7 of the 8 ankles, whereas in group B, their locations varied. The patients were followed up for a median of 48 months (range, 24-168). No complications were observed. The postoperative JSSF and SAFE-Q sports activity scores were significantly higher in group A than in group B (P <.01 and <.001, respectively). The postoperative term to return to their original sports activities was significantly shorter in group A (P < .05). Anterior bony fragments of the ankle without a remarkable spur were located at a specific site, and the results of arthroscopic treatment were better than in those with remarkable spurs. Such a fragment may be called an os talotibiale. Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Multiligament Ankle Instability Following Rotational Ankle Injuries: A Prospective Cohort Study

Category: Sports; Arthroscopy Introduction/Purpose: Rotational ankle injuries are frequent and mostly benign. However, chronic pain and residual instability following an index rotational trauma can happen. The diagnostic elucidation of the pain source is challenging, with ligamentous insufficiency, osteochondral injuries, and impingement/arthritis representing potential causes for symptoms. The prevalence and pattern of the residual isolated or combined ligamentous ankle instability following rotational injuries are not entirely elucidated in the literature. In this prospective cohort study, we aimed to assess the frequency of combined ligamentous instability (lateral, medial, and syndesmotic) in patients with chronic ankle pain (&gt;6 months) following rotational ankle injuries that failed conservative treatment and underwent surgical treatment. We also aimed to assess improvement in patient-reported outcomes (PROs) following treatment of the diagnosed conditions. Methods: IRB-approved prospective cohort study. We included patients with history of chronic pain (&gt;6 months) following a rotational ankle injury, with clinical signs of combined ligamentous instability of at least two ligamentous complexes (lateral, medial, and syndesmotic), and that failed conservative treatment (&gt;3 months). All patients underwent surgical treatment. Diagnostic arthroscopic assessment was performed. Syndesmotic instability was considered positive if a metallic sphere of 3mm could be inserted in the anterior syndesmotic space. Deep deltoid instability was confirmed with a “pass-through sign” when a 4.0mm shaver could be introduced in the medial gutter. Lateral ankle instability was confirmed with a positive rotatory drawer test under fluoroscopic assessment. Presence of isolated or combined ligamentous instability was noted and patients received appropriate open surgical treatment for the confirmed ligamentous insufficiencies. Presence of associated osteochondral injuries, peroneal pathology and anterior bony impingement was also recorded. PROs were collected pre-operatively and at most recent follow-up. Results: A total of 27 patients were included (9 males/18 females), mean age 35.9 years (range, 18-68) and average BMI 31.3kg/m2(CI, 28.1-34.5). Eighty-nine percent had ankle sprains, and 11% rotational ankle fractures treated conservatively. Intraoperative assessment demonstrated positive lateral, medial, and syndesmotic instability in respectively 96%, 81%, and 78% of the patients. Most common combined instabilities were: 59% multidirectional (all three complexes), 19% rotational (medial+lateral), 15% anterolateral (lateral+syndesmotic), and 4% anteromedial (medial+syndesmotic). Isolated lateral instability was present in only one patient (4%). Peroneal tendon pathology, osteochondral injuries and anterior bony impingement were found in respectively 67%, 19%, and 26% of the patients. The average postoperative follow-up was 22.2 months (3-39 months). Significant improvements in VAS (P=0.0024), PROMIS Pain Interference (p=0.024), and EFAS scores (p=0.022) were observed. Conclusion: In this prospective cohort study, combined multiligament instability was extremely frequent in patients with chronic pain following rotational ankle injuries. Ninety-six percent of patients had confirmed intraoperative instability of at least two of the three ankle ligamentous complexes. Multidirectional (lateral, medial, and syndesmotic) (49%), rotational (lateral and medial) (19%), and anterolateral (syndesmotic and lateral) (15%) instabilities were the most frequent injury patterns. Following ligamentous repair/reconstruction, significant improvements in PROs were observed at an average follow-up of 22-months. Our study highlights that the diagnosis of residual multiligament ankle instability should be considered in patients with chronic ankle pain following rotational injuries.

Effect of preoperative anterior bony impingement on lateral collateral ankle ligament reconstruction

Objective: To explore whether the combination of anterior bony impingement before surgery will affect the efficacy of the lateral collateral ankle ligament reconstruction surgery in patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Methods: A prospective cohort study. Patients with CAI who underwent lateral collateral ankle ligament reconstruction from January 2014 to October 2017 in the Department of Sports Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into no bony impingement group (NI group) and bony impingement group (BI group) according to the presence of bone impingement in front of the ankle during the operation. Preoperative American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, Karlsson ankle functional socre (KAFS), Tegner score, visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain were extracted and were reevaluated at least 2 years after surgery as well as imaging evaluation of ankle. Results: A total of 59 patients were enrolled in this study. There were 29 patients in the NI group, 23 males and 6 females with a mean age of (28.4±7.1) years. And there were 30 cases in the BI group, 28 males and 2 females with a mean age of (31.9±8.6) years. The AOFAS, KAFS and Tegner scores in NI group increased from 65.8±10.6, 65.9±10.1 and 3.0 (3.0, 4.0) before the operation to 97.5±4.3, 97.8±4.7 and 6.0(5.0,6.0) after the operation, respectively; and the VAS decreased from 3.0(3.0, 4.0) to 0(0, 0); there were significant differences in those indexes before and after the operation (all P<0.05). The scores of AOFAS, KAFS and Tegner in BI group increased from 65.2±11.0, 64.2±10.0 and 3.0(3.0, 4.0) before the operation to 97.1±4.3, 97.3±4.3 and 5.0(4.0, 6.0) post the operation, respectively; and the VAS scores decreased from 3.0(3.0, 5.0) to 0(0, 1.0); there were significant differences in up-mentioned indexes before and after the surgery (all P<0.05). There was no significant differences in baseline and preoperative clinical function scores between the two groups (all P>0.05). No significant difference was found in postoperative AOFAS, KAFS and VAS scores between the two groups (all P>0.05), while postoperative Tegner score in the NI group was significantly higher than that in the BI group [6.0(5.0, 6.0) vs 5.0(4.0, 6.0), P=0.026]. Imaging evaluation of all patients showed that the reconstructed ligament was clearly visible, and the intraarticular injuries existing before surgery showed obvious signs of healing. Conclusion: Ankle lateral collateral ligament reconstruction for CAI with or without anterior bony impingement results in similar outcomes in ankle function, stability and pain levels.

Comparison between cup implantations during total hip arthroplasty with or without a history of rotational acetabular osteotomy.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) after rotational acetabular osteotomy (RAO) is technically demanding because of the characteristic acetabular morphology after RAO. The present study aimed to investigate the differences in the three-dimensional cup position between THA after RAO and primary THA. We analysed the pre-operative and post-operative computed tomography (CT) data of 120 patients (20 patients after RAO and 100 patients without a history of RAO) who underwent THA between January 2017 and June 2018. We evaluated radiographic parameters, including acetabular anteversion, antero-posterior distance at the level of the femoral head centre, the presence of anterior acetabular osteophyte and/or rotated fragment during RAO from the CT data. Additionally, operative data and clinical scores were also evaluated. Although we found no significant differences in any clinical parameters, there were significant differences in radiographic parameters and operative data. The morphology of the acetabulum was significantly retroverted, and the antero-posterior distance was longer in patients after RAO, compared to the implanted cup. Additionally, longer operative time was necessary for such patients. These results reflect the atypical acetabular morphology after RAO, and emphasize that care should be taken to avoid anterior bony impingement and post-operative dislocation. For cup implantation during THA after RAO, surgeons should acknowledge the atypical morphology of the acetabulum and not be misled by its visual shape.

Characteristics of three-dimensional acetabular morphology of patients with excellent outcome after rotational acetabular osteotomy over 20 years

BackgroundRotational acetabular osteotomy (RAO) is a type of pelvic osteotomy performed to improve the acetabular bony coverage against the femoral head for patients with acetabular dysplasia. The acetabular bony coverage is ideally evaluated three-dimensionally; however, there is a paucity of published data regarding three-dimensional morphology in patients with long-term excellent outcome after RAO. The present study investigated the characteristics of three-dimensional acetabular morphology with long-term excellent outcome after RAO in comparison to patients with normal hip joints and those converted to total hip arthroplasty (THA) after RAO because of osteoarthritis (OA) progression.MethodsAnteroposterior plain radiograph and computed tomography data of 57 hip joints (17 joints with excellent outcome 20 years or more after RAO, 16 normal joints, and 20 joints converted to THA after RAO) were analyzed. The two-dimensional lateral center-edge (CE) angle from plain radiographs and acetabular anteversion, anterior acetabular sector angle, and posterior sector angle from computed tomography (CT) images were calculated.ResultsCompared with patients converted to THA, all parameters in patients with long-term excellent outcome after RAO were similar to those in patients with normal hip joints, particularly in the three-dimensional analyses. The anterior bony coverage was excessive, whereas the posterior bony coverage was deficient in patients converted to THA after RAO. Anterior bony impingement and posterior instability may be the cause of OA progression after RAO.ConclusionCaution must be taken to avoid rotating the separated fragment excessively to the anterior direction during RAO to prevent OA progression and achieve long-term excellent outcome.

Arthroscopic Mobilization of the Ankle-subtalar Joint Complex Using a Novel “Infra-fibula-tip” Portal

Category:Arthroscopy; HindfootIntroduction/Purpose:As a minimally invasive surgical option for posterior ankle/subtalar pathologies, the prone hindfoot endoscopy (a.k.a. Van-Dijk’s method) has been becoming the ‘gold standard’ technique. While this technique holds advantage regarding good orientation and safety handling of posteromedial pathologies, it limits access to the anterolateral part, therefore inconvenient when simultaneously dealing with anterior and posterior pathologies. Recently, we have introduced a novel ‘infra- fibula-tip (IFT)’ portal, which permits wide access to the posterior talocalcaneal joint (PTCJ), from anterolateral to posteromedial, with a patient positioned in supine or semi-lateral. The present study reviewed clinical outcomes of a case series of arthroscopic hindfoot mobilization using this new surgical technique, so as to document its clinical utility.Methods:The sequence of surgical procedures is as follows; - Create an IFT portal, from a small incision immediately distal to the fibular tip, through the peroneal tendon sheath (anterior to the tendons, but posterior to the calcanofibular ligament), toward the posterior porch of PTCJ.- Inserting a 30-deg 2.7mm scope to the posterior porch, and broadly observing posterior intraarticular findings.- Gently moving the scope to the anterolateral porch, and broadly observing anterolateral intraarticular findings.- Creating an anterolateral (AL) portal under arthroscopic guidance.- Creating a PL portal at immediately lateral to the Achilles tendon, with guidance of a blunt rod inserted from the AL portal (gently advanced posteriorly through the lateral recess and penetrated the rod toward subcutis).- Executing posterior procedures from the PL portal, while observing from the IFT portal. Executing anterolateral procedures working from the AL portal, while observing from the IFT portal.Results:A total of 7 cases underwent the procedure of interest to date. Subtalar osteoarthritis (OA) occurred in all, with accessory anterolateral talar facet (AALTF) impingement in 3. Ankle OA occurred in 3, with anterior bony impingement in 2. Preceding pathologies included peri-ankle intraarticular fractures (4), talocalcaneal coalition (2), and neurogenic varus foot (1). Mobilization procedures included lateral-to-posterior PTCJ debridement (7), coalition release (2), AALTF removal (3), sinus debridement (2), posterior ankle capsule release (2), anterior ankle debridement (2), talonavicular debridement (1), and Achilles tendon lengthening (1). The surgery duration ranged from 65 to 245 minutes. Postoperatively, of 4 cases followed more than 6 months, remarkable motion improvement (10 degrees or more) occurred in 3, and every case reported symptom relief.Conclusion:The IFT portal accesses the middle of the PTCJ, with a short skin-to-joint distance, allowing flexible exploration of both the posterior and anterior porches. Posteriorly, ability of direct intraarticular access (without extraarticular shaving) reduces surgical invasion, as well as the risk of potential neurovasucular injury. Anteriorly, it helps secure good triangulation for handling sinus pathologies. Since subtalar arthroscopy using the IFT portal is doable in a supine or semi-lateral position, anterior ankle arthroscopy could be simultaneously executed. Arthroscopic hindfoot mobilization using this technique appears to be efficient for dealing with ankle/subtalar contracture due to combined anterior and posterior pathologies.

Hindfoot endoscopic release of the posterior ankle capsuloligamentous structures improves ankle dorsiflexion range, function and pain in patients with painful limitation of ankle dorsiflexion

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of arthroscopic release of the posterior capsuloligamentous structures on ankle dorsiflexion and function in patients with painful limitation of ankle dorsiflexion.MethodsA prospective consecutive case series of 13 adult patients with painful limitation of ankle dorsiflexion were included. None had clinically relevant gastrocnemius, soleus or Achilles contracture. Patients with anterior bony impingement or ankle degeneration on CT scan were excluded. All patients underwent combined anterior and posterior ankle arthroscopies with resection of posterior capsuloligamentous structures and the posterior fibulotalocalcaneal ligament. Ankle range of motion was assessed 2 years postoperatively. Foot and Ankle Outcome Scores (FAOS) were used to assess functional outcome.ResultsThe median patient age at surgery was 26 years (range 19–44). At 2 years postsurgery, the ankle dorsiflexion range had increased by 15 degrees (range 0–25, p<0.0001). FAOSs completed at a median of 44 months postsurgery (range 26–72) significantly improved. Median improvements were 19 points for pain (range 6–67, p=0.0004), 14 points for symptoms (range 0–36, p=0.0005), 15 points for activities of daily living (range 6–35, p<0.0001), 45 points for sport (range 20–55, p<0.0001) and 50 points for quality of life (range 13–62, p<0.0001).ConclusionsHindfoot endoscopic release of the posterior ankle structures, including the posterior fibulotalocalcaneal ligament, is an effective technique for improving ankle dorsiflexion range in patients with painful limitation of ankle dorsiflexion.Level of evidenceIV.

What should we be careful of ankle arthroscopy?

Ankle arthroscopy has been used as a standard tool by foot and ankle surgeons. To overcome the narrowness of ankle joint, a noninvasive distraction technique is used for the successful visualization in ankle arthroscopy. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and type of complications associated with ankle arthroscopy using a noninvasive distraction technique and to report a troublesome complication. We reviewed 514 patients' charts from 2003 to 2011. The same noninvasive distraction technique was used. Patients' demography, duration of follow-up, diagnoses, procedures, and complications related to ankle arthroscopy were analyzed. There were 388 male and 126 female; mean age was 37.2 years; mean follow-up duration was 33 months. The diagnoses were osteochondral lesion of talus, chronic ankle instability, anterolateral soft tissue impingement syndrome, and anterior bony impingement. We performed arthroscopic synovectomy, osteochondral procedure, bony spur excision, and loose body removal. The mean time of arthroscopic procedure was 47 min. There were neurologic complications (eight cases), skin necrosis of posterior thigh (three cases), instrument breakage (two cases), and superficial wound infection (one case). All complications were well resolved. The total duration of distraction plus tourniquet inflation exceeded 120 min in the three cases of skin necrosis. Skin necrosis was deemed to be resulted from the long tourniquet time. The noninvasive distraction technique is safe and effective for ankle arthroscopy. However, the distraction plus tourniquet requires attention because it can cause high pressure on posterior thigh resulting in soft tissue injury.

Detection of Tram Track Lesion in the Ankle Joint; A Comparative Study of Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Ankle Arthroscopy

Category: Ankle, Arthroscopy Introduction/Purpose: Tram track lesion in the ankle joint has been occasionally found during the ankle arthroscopy and there has been few studies relating the pathophysiology, diagnostic method and treatment of the lesion. This study aimed to show the effectiveness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detection of tram track lesion in the ankle joint comparing with ankle arthroscopy. Methods: We retrospectively assessed 175 ankles in 170 patients with anterior bony impingement syndrome in the ankle who underwent arthroscopic surgery between January 2013 and July 2015. Anterior ankle bony spurs were scored in preoperative weight-bearing radiographs using the impingement classification. MRIs were reviewed for the detection of tram track lesions according to our definition (focal high signal intensity along the talar dome cartilage surface on coronal view), which were then compared with arthroscopic findings. The grade of cartilage defect was stratified according to international cartilage repair society (ICRS) grading system by arthroscopic finding. Results: Fourteen (8.0%) ankles were identified with tram track lesion on MRI and 16 (9.1%) ankles were identified with tram track lesion at ankle arthroscopy. Overall sensitivity of MRI for detection of tram track lesion was 87.5% and specificity was 100%. On plane weight-bearing radiographs, 4 patients had grade 1, 2 patients had grade 2 and 10 patients had grade 3 impingement spurs. Under the ICRS grading system, 4 cases were grade 2, 4 cases were grade 3, and 8 cases were grade 4 at arthroscopy. Comparing with MRI, 2 cases of grade 2, 4 cases of grade 3 and 8 cases of grade 4 were detected (Table). Impingement spur grade showed no significant correlation with arthroscopic ICRS grade of tram track lesion (p = 0.609). Conclusion: Tram track lesions in the ankle joint can be confidently detected on MRI with high sensitivity and specificity. Early detection and following treatment of the lesion can maximize the clinical outcome that eliminates the possibility for further damage to the cartilage and consequent osteoarthritic change.

Arthroscopic Evaluation of Impingement and Osteochondral Lesions in Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability.

Anterolateral impingement associated with intra-articular synovitis, scarring, and fibrosis is a less recognized feature in patients with chronic lateral ankle instability. The aim of our study was to ascertain the incidence of intra-articular synovitis, osteochondral lesions (OCLs), impingement lesions (both intra- and extra-articular), and other associated pathologies in patients undergoing modified Broström-Gould ankle ligament reconstruction. We performed a retrospective review of all patients who underwent arthroscopically assisted modified Broström-Gould ankle ligament reconstruction for symptomatic recurrent ankle instability. Patients who had previous ankle surgery or inflammatory arthropathy were excluded. Ankle arthroscopy was performed prior to reconstruction in all patients. Data were obtained from clinical and radiological records including magnetic resonance imaging scans. Arthroscopic findings were recorded in detail intraoperatively. A total of 100 patients (53 females and 47 males) with an average age of 37 years (range, 15-65 years) were reviewed over a 10-year period. Sixty-three patients (63%) had intra-articular synovitis mostly in the anterior and/or anterolateral compartment, which required arthroscopic debridement. Seventeen patients (17%) were found to have OCLs, and 12 (12%) patients had anterior bony impingement lesions. This study found a high incidence of anterior/anterolateral synovitis in patients with chronic lateral ankle instability. However, there was a relatively low incidence of anterior bony impingement lesions or OCLs in our series. Level IV, retrospective case series.

Arthroscopic Assessment of Intra-Articular Lesion after Surgery for Rotational Ankle Fracture.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to report findings of exploratory arthroscopic assessment performed in conjunction with removal of internal fixation device placed in the initial surgery for rotational ankle fracture.MethodsA total of 53 patients (33 male, 20 female) who underwent surgery for rotational ankle fracture between November 2002 and February 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients gave consent to the exploratory arthroscopic surgery for the removal of internal fixation devices placed in the initial surgery. Lauge-Hansen classification system of ankle fractures was assessed for all patients. Intra-articular lesions (osteochondral lesion, loose body, and fibrosis) were evaluated via ankle arthroscopy. Comparative analysis was then performed between radiological classification of ankle fracture/patient's symptoms and arthroscopic findings.ResultsLauge-Hansen classification system of ankle fractures included supination-external rotation type (n = 35), pronation-external rotation type (n = 9), and pronation-abduction type (n = 9). A total of 33 patients exhibited symptoms of pain or discomfort while walking whereas 20 exhibited no symptoms. Arthroscopic findings included abnormal findings around the syndesmosis area (n = 35), intra-articular fibrosis (n = 51), osteochondral lesions of the talus (n = 33), loose bodies (n = 6), synovitis (n = 13), and anterior bony impingement syndrome (n = 3). Intra-articular fibrosis was seen in 31 of symptomatic patients (93.9%). Pain or discomfort with activity caused by soft tissue impingement with meniscus-like intra-articular fibrosis were found in 19 patients. There was statistical significance (p = 0.02) between symptoms (pain and discomfort) and the findings of meniscus-like fibrosis compared to the group without any symptom.ConclusionsArthroscopic examination combined with treatment of intra-articular fibrosis arising from ankle fracture surgery may help improve surgical outcomes.

Ankle arthroscopy: Short-term outcome in ten consecutive patients

Fifteen ankle arthroscopies performed between 2005 and 2012 were analyzed to evaluate the risks and benefits of the procedure. All arthroscopies were performed by one surgeon using the same nonskeletal traction technique. Ten of the fifteen patients were succeed to reach to the follow up. Average follow-up was 22.65 months (range: 6-88). There were 8 males and 2 females patients. Average age was 45 (range: 34-66) years. The duration of preoperative symptoms averaged 40 (range: 5-120) months. Preoperative clinical and radiographic examination was performed. At the closing follow-up, clinical examination, visual analog scores and X rays were repeated. The diagnosis was osteochondral lesions of the talus in five patients, anterior bony impingement in 3, and soft tissue impingement or synovitis in 2. Overall, in seven patients (70%) the operative results were good; eight patients (80%) were satisfied by the procedure. Those patients who had been diagnosed with diffuse synovitis or posttraumatic chondromalacia had poor results, whereas patients with a localized osteochondral lesion of the talus, or localized bony or soft tissue impingement experienced the best results. There were no complications from ankle arthroscopy in this series. Ankle arthroscopy appears to be a relatively low-risk procedure with substantial benefits, particularly in localized disease of the ankle joint. J. Exp. Clin. Med., 2013; 30:15-17

Arthroscopic treatment of impingement of the ankle reduces pain and enhances function.

A consecutive series of 105 patients with a median age of 35 (16-62) years who were operated on with arthroscopic resection for impingement of the ankle using standardized technique without distraction is presented. All patients complained of painful dorsiflexion and had failed to respond to conservative treatment. A total of 177 diagnoses were found, soft tissue impingement or synovitis in 89, anterior bony impingement in 44, chondral lesion in 20, loose bodies in 16 and osteoarthritis in eight. At follow-up after 2 years, 65 patients were pain free while 28 patients had experienced reduction of pain. Gait was improved in 30/41 patients and 22 resumed sporting activities. The results were graded excellent in 67, good in 25, fair in six and poor in seven patients. There were four deep infections and one synovial fistula in this series. The deep infections all responded well to arthroscopic synovectomy and intravenous antibiotics. In one patient persistent symptoms were recorded. Ankle arthroscopy yielded good results in the treatment of anterior impingement of the ankle as it effectively reduced pain and enhanced function.

Anterior tibiotalar impingement associated with chronic ankle instability

The authors describe the surgical treatment of 13 cases of chronic ankle instability and concomitant anterior bony impingement of the ankle in professional and recreational athletes. All patients had symptoms and signs of lateral instability and a painful block to dorsiflexion. Two patients presented with recurrence of impingement after a previous debridement alone without an ankle stabilization. The anterior osteophytes were debrided arthroscopically and a Brostrom-Gould open stabilization was performed. After a mean follow-up period of 12 months (range 4-23 months), all 13 patients had mechanically and functionally stable ankles. The mean improvement in range of dorsiflexion was 12.4 degrees and all but one had improvement with respect to a subjective and functional outcome assessment. There have been no recurrences of impingement to date. These results suggest that ankle stabilization performed in conjunction with debridement of osteophytes may reduce the recurrence of exostoses as well as improving the outcome.

Tram Track Lesion of the Talar Dome

Summary: A distinctive lesion in the articular cartilage of the talar dome in anterior bony impingement syndrome of the ankle joint is reported. During arthroscopic treatment of anterior bony impingement syndrome of the ankle, we found six distinctive articular cartilage lesions in the talar dome. The cartilage lesions were full-thickness defects (grade IV), located in the anterior half of the medial aspect of the talar dome and were longitudinal with variable widths resembling a tram track; thus, “tram track lesion.” All six patients were professional or collegiate soccer players and had large osteophytes in the anteromedial ridge of the tibial articular margin. Instability test results were negative. All patients had the typical tenderness in the anteromedial corner of the ankle. Overall, good and excellent results were achieved in five patients at a mean follow-up of 27 months after arthroscopic excision of osteophytes and drilling using K-wires.Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, Vol 15, No 2 (March), 1999: pp 203–206

Ankle arthroscopy: outcome in 79 consecutive patients.

Seventy-nine consecutive ankle arthroscopies were analyzed at a minimum 2-year follow-up to evaluate the risks and benefits of the procedure. All arthroscopies were performed over a 2-year period by a single surgeon using the same nonskeletal traction technique. Forty-four arthroscopies were performed for therapeutic reasons only, whereas 35 were performed for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Clinical examination with visual analog scores were used for assessment preoperatively and postoperatively. The diagnoses were osteochondral lesions of the talus in 21; post-ankle fracture scarring in 14, osteoarthritis and chondromalacia in 11, anterior bony impingement in 14; anterolateral soft tissue impingement or synovitis in 15; miscellaneous diagnosis in 4. Overall, 63 of 79 patients benefited in some way from the procedure. There were diagnostic benefits in 27 of 35 (77%) of ankles in which the diagnosis was clarified by the arthroscopy. In those ankles in which the procedure was performed for therapeutic purposes only, 36 of 44 (82%) of the patients benefited. Those patients with an underlying diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the ankle, posttraumatic chondromalacia and arthrofibrosis, or who were on disability and worker's compensation benefits, had poor results, whereas patients with a localized osteochondral lesion of the talus, localized bony or soft tissue impingement, or localized lateral plica had the best results. There were three significant neurological complications from ankle arthroscopy in this series. Two patients developed a postoperative partial deep peroneal nerve neuropraxia, and one patient had superficial peroneal nerve irritation at the site of the anterolateral portal. Ankle arthroscopy appears to be a relatively low-risk procedure with substantial benefits, particularly in localized disease of the ankle joint. Skeletal distraction was not used in any of these cases.