Comparison of Outcomes for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus With and Without Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability

Background: Osteochondral lesions (OCLs) and bony impingement are common secondary lesions of chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI), but the risk factors that predict OCLs and bony impingement are unknown. Purpose: To analyze the risk factors for the development of OCLs and osteophytes in patients with CLAI. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Patients diagnosed with CLAI at our institution from June 2007 to May 2018 were enrolled. The assessed potential risk factors were age, sex, postinjury duration, body mass index, injury side, and ligament injury type (isolated anterior talofibular ligament [ATFL] injury, isolated calcaneofibular ligament [CFL] injury, or concomitant ATFL and CFL injuries). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between these factors and the presence of OCLs and osteophytes. Results: A total of 1169 patients with CLAI were included; 436 patients (37%) had OCLs and 334 (31%) had osteophytes. The presence of OCLs was significantly associated with the presence of osteophytes ( P < .001). Male sex and older age were significantly associated with the presence of OCLs in the medial and lateral talus. A postinjury duration of 5 years or longer was significantly associated with the presence of OCLs in the medial talus (odds ratio [OR], 1.532; 95% CI, 1.023-2.293; P = .038) but not in the lateral talus. ATFL and CFL injuries were both significantly associated with the presence of lateral OCLs. Risk factors for the presence of osteophytes were male sex, older age, postinjury duration 5 years or longer, and CFL injury. Patients with concomitant ATFL and CFL injuries were significantly more likely to have osteophytes than were patients with single-ligament injuries ( P = .018). Conclusion: Risk factors for OCLs and osteophytes were postinjury duration of 5 years or longer, older age, and male sex. ATFL injury was associated with the presence of lateral OCLs, whereas CFL injury was associated with the presence of lateral OCLs and osteophytes. Patients with these risk factors should be closely monitored and treated to reduce the incidence of ankle arthritis.

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Chronic lateral ankle instability: a current concepts review

SA Orthopaedic Journal ◽

10.17159/2309-8309/2021/v20n2a7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Ziyaad Mayet ◽

Paulo NF Ferrao ◽

Nikiforos Ρ Saragas ◽

Richard Paterson ◽

Sebastian KM Magobotha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ankle Instability ◽

Osteochondral Lesions ◽

Mechanical Instability ◽

Functional Rehabilitation ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Ankle Ligaments ◽

Lateral Ankle ◽

Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability ◽

Lateral Ankle Instability ◽

Lateral Ankle Ligaments

ABSTRACT Injuries to the lateral ankle ligaments are quite common, with a reported incidence of up to 22% of all sports injuries, and 85% of all ankle sprains. Most of these are effectively managed using nonoperative measures in the acute setting. Approximately 20% of patients will, however, develop chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI). Although the anatomy and biomechanics are well documented, more recently, the concepts of the lateral talofibular calcaneal ligament (LTFCL) and microinstability have been described. For those who develop CLAI, a full assessment is mandatory to not only search for correctable risk factors (malalignment), but also to differentiate between functional and mechanical instability. Associated injuries need to be excluded, such as osteochondral lesions of the talus. Rotational ankle instability is a new concept that needs to be considered. Patients who present with CLAI are initially managed conservatively in the form of functional rehabilitation. This management is especially effective in patients with functional instability. Surgery is generally indicated after failed conservative management in patients with objective mechanical instability. The elite athlete is a relative indication to performing surgery early. The choice of surgical procedure is made on an individualised basis, although open anatomical procedures remain the gold standard. Non-anatomical procedures are no longer recommended. Newer minimally invasive and endoscopic techniques show promise in experienced hands but there is only limited evidence to support its use at present. The use of a suture tape as an augment is reserved for specific indications and should not be used routinely. Level of evidence: Level 5 Keywords: chronic lateral ankle instability, ATFL, CFL, functional rehabilitation, Broström, surgical procedures for lateral ankle ligaments

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A comparison between arthroscopic and open surgery for treatment outcomes of chronic lateral ankle instability accompanied by osteochondral lesions of the talus

Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research ◽

10.1186/s13018-020-01628-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Can Xu ◽

Mingqing Li ◽

Chenggong Wang ◽

Hua Liu

Keyword(s):

Treatment Outcomes ◽

Open Surgery ◽

Ankle Instability ◽

Osteochondral Lesions ◽

Lateral Ankle ◽

Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability ◽

Lateral Ankle Instability

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Consistency and Reliability of Ankle Stress Radiography in Patients With Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/23259671211004099 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 232596712110040

Author(s):

Ji Hye Choi ◽

Kug Jin Choi ◽

Chin Youb Chung ◽

Moon Seok Park ◽

Ki Hyuk Sung ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Standard Deviation ◽

Tilt Angle ◽

Ankle Instability ◽

Interobserver Reliability ◽

Initial Presentation ◽

Lateral Ankle ◽

Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability ◽

Stress Radiographs ◽

Lateral Ankle Instability

Background: Ankle stress radiographs are important tools for evaluating chronic lateral ankle instability. The consistency of a patient’s ankle condition as it affects the reliability of ankle stress radiographs has never been evaluated. Purpose: To investigate the consistency and reliability of ankle stress radiographs in patients with chronic lateral ankle instability without an ankle injury during the study period. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Included were patients with chronic lateral ankle instability who underwent 2 repeated ankle stress radiographs between January 2014 and July 2019; those with an ankle injury during the study period were excluded. The tibiotalar tilt angle on varus stress radiographs and anterior translation of the talus on anterior drawer stress radiographs were measured at initial presentation and final follow-up examination. Interobserver reliability and consistency of ankle stress radiographs were analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: A total of 45 patients (mean ± standard deviation age, 36.4 ± 13.4 years; 18 men and 27 women; follow-up duration, 9.1 ± 3.2 months) were included. The mean ± standard deviation tibiotalar tilt angle and anterior talar translation at initial presentation were 10.8° ± 5.2° and 6.9 ± 2.7 mm, respectively. The interobserver reliabilities of the tibiotalar tilt angle and anterior talar translation were excellent (ICC = 0.926 [95% CI, 0.874-0.959] and 0.911 [95% CI, 0.766-0.961], respectively). The consistency between the initial and final radiographs was good for tibiotalar tilt angle (ICC = 0.763 [95% CI, 0.607-0.862]) and poor for anterior talar translation (ICC = 0.456 [95% CI, 0.187-0.660]). Conclusion: Although the interobserver reliability of the radiographic measurements was excellent, the consistency of the ankle stress radiographs was not as acceptable. Surgeons need to be cautious when deciding whether to operate on a patient with chronic lateral ankle instability based on a single ankle stress radiograph.

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Demographic Predictors of Concomitant Osteochondral Lesion of the Talus in Patients With Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability

Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics ◽

10.1177/24730114211013344 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 247301142110133

Author(s):

Yong Sang Kim ◽

Tae Yong Kim ◽

Yong Gon Koh

Keyword(s):

Tilt Angle ◽

Ankle Instability ◽

Osteochondral Lesion ◽

Case Series ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Lateral Ankle ◽

Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability ◽

Female Patients ◽

Lateral Ankle Instability ◽

Talar Tilt

Background: Osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT) is commonly found as a concomitant pathologic lesion in a large proportion of patients with chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI). This study investigated which characteristics in a patient with CLAI increase the risk for OLT. Methods: Three hundred sixty-four patients who underwent a modified Broström operation for their CLAI were reviewed retrospectively. The characteristics of each patient and variables associated with OLTs were investigated. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the effect of each potential predictor on the incidence of OLT, and to evaluate the associations between the patient characteristics and variables associated with OLTs. Results: Patients with OLTs were more frequently female (female vs male: 63.1% vs 43.9%, P = .003). In addition, the lesion sizes were larger in female patients (female vs male: 113.9 ± 24.9 mm2 vs 100.7 ± 18.0 mm2, P = .002), and medial lesions were more common in female patients (female vs male; 93.3% vs 81.8%, P = .036). The lesion sizes were larger in patients with a wider talar tilt angle ( P < .001), and patients with a medial OLT showed a wider talar tilt angle (12.0 ± 2.0 degrees vs 10.3 ± 2.2 degrees, P = .002). Conclusion: In this CLAI patient cohort, we found female patients to be at greater risk for OLTs than male patients. Furthermore, CLAI female patients with concomitant OLT had on average a larger lesion size, more frequent OLT medial position, and were associated with wider talar tilt angles, suggesting that females had more intrinsic ankle instability than males. Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.

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Magnetic Resonance Imaging T2* Mapping of the Talar Dome and Subtalar Joint Cartilage 3 Years After Anterior Talofibular Ligament Repair or Reconstruction in Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability

The American Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/0363546520982240 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 49 (3) ◽

pp. 737-746

Author(s):

Yiwen Hu ◽

Yuyang Zhang ◽

Qianru Li ◽

Yuxue Xie ◽

Rong Lu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Ankle Instability ◽

Anterior Talofibular Ligament ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Talar Dome ◽

Lateral Ankle ◽

Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability ◽

Lateral Ankle Instability

Background: Cartilage degeneration is a common issue in patients with chronic lateral ankle instability. However, there are limited studies regarding the effectiveness of lateral ligament surgery on preventing talar and subtalar joint cartilage from further degenerative changes. Purpose: To longitudinally evaluate talar and subtalar cartilage compositional changes using magnetic resonance imaging T2* mapping in anatomic anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL)–repaired and ATFL-reconstructed ankles and to compare them with measures in asymptomatic controls. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Between January 2015 and December 2016, patients with chronic lateral ankle instability who underwent anatomic ATFL repair (n = 19) and reconstruction (n = 20) were prospectively recruited. Patients underwent 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and 3-year follow-up. As asymptomatic controls, 21 healthy volunteers were recruited and underwent imaging at baseline. Talar dome cartilage was divided into (1) medial anterior, central, and posterior and (2) lateral anterior, central, and posterior. Posterior subtalar cartilage was divided into (1) central talus and calcaneus and (2) lateral talus and calcaneus. Ankle function was assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society scores. Results: There were significant increases in T2* values in medial and lateral posterior and central talus cartilage from baseline to 3-year follow-up in patients who underwent repair. T2* values were significantly higher in ATFL-repaired ankles at follow-up for all cartilage regions of interest, except medial and lateral anterior and lateral central, compared with those in healthy controls. From baseline to 3-year follow-up, ATFL-reconstructed ankles had a significant increase in T2* values in lateral central and posterior cartilage. T2* values in ATFL-reconstructed ankles at follow-up were elevated in all cartilage regions of interest, except medial and lateral anterior, compared with those in healthy controls. ATFL-repaired ankles showed a greater decrease of T2* values from baseline to follow-up in lateral calcaneus cartilage than did ATFL-reconstructed ankles ( P = .031). No significant differences in American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society score were found between repair and reconstruction procedures (mean ± SD, 19.11 ± 7.45 vs 16.85 ± 6.24; P = .311). Conclusion: Neither anatomic ATFL repair nor reconstruction could prevent the progression of talar dome and posterior subtalar cartilage degeneration; however, ankle function and activity levels were not affected over a short period. Patients who underwent ATFL repair exhibited lower T2* values in the lateral calcaneus cartilage than did those who underwent reconstruction.

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