Subtalar arthrography in recurrent instability of the ankle

Fibrocartilaginous Bed Injury of the Posterior Tibial Tendon Sheath: A Report of 3 Cases

CASES

Three athletes (2 female gymnasts and 1 male rugby player) complained of persistent posteromedial ankle pain after an ankle injury. Arthroscopy of the ankle and tendoscopy of the posterior tibial tendon (PTT) were performed in 2 patients with prolonged symptoms and in 1 patient with acute severe pain. A small rupture at the fibrocartilaginous bed of the PTT with pinhole communication between the PTT sheath and the ankle joint cavity was detected, and open repair of the fibrocartilaginous bed was performed.

CONCLUSION

All patients returned to their respective sports without any residual symptoms after open repair of the fibrocartilaginous bed.

[Diagnosis of Lateral Ankle Ligament Injury in the Evaluation of Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability]

Chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) is a major complication of acute ankle sprain that can cause discomfort in both daily and sports activities and may lead to degenerative changes in the ankle joint as the long-term sequelae. The precise cause of CLAI remains debatable and is most probably multifactorial. However, identifying chronic lateral ankle ligament injury is critical in determining the primary etiology and formulating an appropriate treatment plan. This review discusses the features and effectiveness of various imaging techniques in diagnosing chronic lateral ankle ligament injury.

Current Concepts on Subtalar Instability

Subtalar instability remains a topic of debate, and its precise cause is still unknown. The mechanism of injury and clinical symptoms of ankle and subtalar instabilities largely overlap, resulting in many cases of isolated or combined subtalar instability that are often misdiagnosed. Neglecting the subtalar instability may lead to failure of conservative or surgical treatment and result in chronic ankle instability. Understanding the accurate anatomy and biomechanics of the subtalar joint, their interplay, and the contributions of the different subtalar soft tissue structures is fundamental to correctly diagnose and manage subtalar instability. An accurate diagnosis is crucial to correctly identify those patients with instability who may require conservative or surgical treatment. Many different nonsurgical and surgical approaches have been proposed to manage combined or isolated subtalar instability, and the clinician should be aware of available treatment options to make an informed decision. In this current concepts narrative review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on the anatomy, biomechanics, clinical and imaging diagnosis, nonsurgical and surgical treatment options, and outcomes after subtalar instability treatment.

Operative Treatment for Ganglion Cyst of Flexor Hallucis Longus Sheath

BACKGROUND

Intractable hallucal ganglion cysts (HGCs) are often a symptomatic and recurrent condition. Its connection with the ankle joint is not well understood. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between tenosynovitis of the flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tendon at the level of the ankle with formation of an HGC. In addition, we sought to analyze the outcomes of cyst excision combined with ankle capsulorrhaphy.

METHODS

Nineteen patients with HGC who underwent surgical intervention were included between June 2016 and June 2019. Eight had known recurrences. Ankle arthrography and cyst excision were performed on all patients. Clinical evaluations included the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores, visual analog scale (VAS), and evaluation of postoperative complications. The mean follow-up period was 16.5 ± 8.6 months.

RESULTS

Thirteen of the 19 HGCs (68.4%) had a connection with the FHL tendon sheath. Combined with ankle capsulorrhaphy, there was no recurrence after cyst excision. The VAS score decreased from 2.1 ± 1.5 to 0.4 ± 0.8, and AOFAS score significantly improved from 84.3 ± 8.7 to 97.4 ± 5.2 at final follow-up (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Most of these patients had a connection between the HGC and ankle joint. Ankle arthrography appeared to be useful for diagnosis, and cyst excision combined with ankle capsulorrhaphy was an effective treatment without cyst recurrence.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, case series.

Does subtalar instability really exist? A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Subtalar joint instability (STI) is considered as a potential source of chronic lateral hindfoot instability. However, clinical diagnosis of STI is still challenging. This systematic review was conducted to assess the consistency of the clinical entity "subtalar instability", to investigate the reliability of available diagnostic tools and to provide a critical overview of related studies.

METHODS

A systematic review of the Medline, Web of Sciences and EMBASE databases was performed for studies reporting on tests to investigate subtalar instability or lesions of the subtalar ligaments. To investigate the relation with chronic STI, studies focusing on sinus tarsi syndrome (STS) or acute lesions of the subtalar ligaments were also included in the search strategy and were assessed separately.

RESULTS

This review identified 25 studies focusing on different topics: chronic STI (16), acute lesions of the subtalar ligaments (5) and STS (4). Twelve studies, assessing STI, demonstrated the existence of a subgroup with instability complaints related to abnormal increased subtalar motion (7) or abnormalities of the subtalar ligaments (6). We found insufficient evidence for measuring subtalar tilting using stress radiographs. MRI was able to assess abnormalities of the ligaments and stress-MRI detected abnormally increased motion.

CONCLUSION

Complaints of instability can be related to subtalar ligaments injuries and an abnormally increased motion of the subtalar joint. Stress radiographs should be interpreted with caution and should not have the status of a reference test. Clinical diagnosis should rely on several parameters including MRI.

Lateral ligament reconstruction and augmented direct anatomical repair restore ligament laxity in patients suffering from chronic ankle instability up to 15 years from surgery

PURPOSE

The purpose of the present study was to compare the outcomes of patients who underwent augmented direct anatomical repair using a Broström-Gould procedure with those who underwent lateral ligament reconstruction using a split peroneus brevis tendon for the treatment of chronic ankle instability.

METHODS

Forty patients aged 18-40 years underwent surgical treatment for chronic lateral ankle instability between 1997 and 1998: 20 patients underwent direct anatomical repair using Broström-Gould procedure (Group A); 20 patients underwent lateral tenodesis using a split peroneus brevis tendon (Group B). Median age at surgery was 22.6 years (range 18-40). Patients were assessed pre-operatively and 15 years after surgery with functional assessment including AOFAS scale, Karlsson-Peterson score, Tegner activity level, Sefton stability scale, and objective examination comprehending ROM, anterior drawer sign and talar tilt test. Telos Stress equipment was used for pre- and post-operative radiographic laxity testing.

RESULTS

No major complications were reported. Mean overall AOFAS, Karlsson-Peterson and Tegner scores significantly increased at follow-up compared to pre-operatory status, although no statistically significant differences concerning these variables were reported between the two groups. Sagittal ROM was full in 36 patients: 4 subjects in the Group B experienced 5 degrees dorsiflexion limitation compared to the contralateral side. Patients treated with lateral tenodesis reported a statistically significant reduction in the values of radiographic anterior talar translation (1.4 mm, SD: 0.9) compared to patients in Group A (5.7 mm, SD: 1.1, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Augmented direct anatomical repair and lateral tenodesis provide satisfying long-term outcomes in terms of subjective and objective parameters up to 15 years from surgery in patients with chronic ankle instability without leading to significant artrhitic changes. Objectively, lateral tenodesis appears to improve more effectively restoration of laxity; the reduced ROM reported in 20% of patients did not considerably affect the overall functional outcome.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Comparative case series, Level III.

Currently used imaging options cannot accurately predict subtalar joint instability

PURPOSE

To give a systematic overview of current diagnostic imaging options and surgical treatment for chronic subtalar joint instability.

METHODS

A systematic literature search across the following sources was performed: PubMed, ScienceDirect, and SpringerLink. Twenty-three imaging studies and 19 outcome studies were included. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 (QUADAS 2) tool was used to assess the methodologic quality of the imaging articles, while the modified Coleman Score was used to assess the methodologic quality of the outcome studies.

RESULTS

Conventional radiographs were most frequently used to assess chronic subtalar joint instability. Talar tilt, anterior talar translation, and subtalar tilt were the three most commonly used measurement methods. Surgery often included calcaneofibular ligament reconstruction.

CONCLUSION

Current imaging options do not reliably predict subtalar joint instability. Distinction between chronic lateral ankle instability and subtalar joint instability remains challenging. Recognition of subtalar joint instability as an identifiable and treatable cause of ankle pain requires vigilant clinical investigation.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Systematic Review of Level III and Level IV Studies, Level IV.

Imaging diagnosis for chronic lateral ankle ligament injury: a systemic review with meta-analysis

Background

Various imaging techniques have been utilized for the diagnosis of chronic lateral ankle ligament injury. This systemic review will explore the effectiveness of different imaging techniques in diagnosing chronic lateral ankle ligament injury.

Methods

Relative studies were retrieved after searching 3 databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trails). Eligible studies were summarized. Data were extracted to calculate pooled sensitivity and specificity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasonography (US), stress radiography, and arthrography.

Results

Fifteen studies met our inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 695 participants were included. The pooled sensitivities in diagnosing chronic ATFL injury were 0.83 [0.78, 0.87] for MRI, 0.99 [0.96, 1.00] for US, and 0.81 [0.68, 0.90] for stress radiography. The pooled specificities in diagnosing chronic ATFL injury were 0.79 [0.69, 0.87] for MRI, 0.91 [0.82, 0.97] for US, and 0.92 [0.79, 0.98] for stress radiography. The pooled sensitivities in diagnosing chronic CFL injury were 0.56 [0.46, 0.66] for MRI, 0.94 [0.85, 0.98] for US, and 0.90 [0.73, 0.98] for arthrography. The pooled specificities in diagnosing chronic CFL injury were 0.88 [0.82, 0.93] for MRI, 0.91 [0.80, 0.97] for US, and 0.90 [0.77, 0.97] for arthrography.

Conclusion

This systematic review with meta-analysis investigated the accuracy of imaging for the diagnosis of chronic lateral ankle ligament injury. Ultrasound manifested high diagnostic accuracy in diagnosing chronic lateral ankle ligament injury. Clinicians should be aware of the limitations of MRI in detecting chronic CFL injuries.

Recent Developments in the Treatment of Ankle and Subtalar Instability

It was nearly a centenary ago that severe ankle sprain was recognized as an injury of the ankle ligament(s). With the recent technological advances and tools in imaging and surgical procedures, the management of ankle sprains - including subtalar injuries - has drastically improved. The repair or reconstruction of ankle ligaments is getting more anatomical and less invasive than previously. More specifically, ligamentous reconstruction with tendon graft has been the gold standard in the management of severely damaged ligament, however, it does not reproduce the original ultrastructure of the ankle ligaments. The anatomical ligament structure of a ligament comprises a ligament with enthesis at both ends and the structure should also exhibit proprioceptive function. To date, it remains impossible to reconstruct a functionally intact and anatomical ligament. Cooperation of the regenerative medicine and surgical technology in expected to improve reconstructions of the ankle ligament, however, we need more time to develop a technology in reproducing the ideal ligament complex.

Ultrasound-Guided Interventional Procedures in Pain Medicine: A Review of Anatomy, Sonoanatomy, and Procedures: Part VI: Ankle Joint

Ultrasound-guided injections in pain medicine are emerging as a popular technique for pain interventions. Ultrasound can be applied for procedures of the ankle joint and surrounding structures. This review describes the anatomy and sonoanatomy of the ankle joint, subtalar joint, and surrounding extra-articular structures relevant for intra-articular injection. Second, it reviews injection techniques and the accuracy and efficacy of these intra-articular ankle injections.

Lateral ligament reconstruction with allograft in patients with severe chronic ankle instability

INTRODUCTION

Chronic ankle instability is a condition of perception of giving way and persistent pain usually following multiple ankle sprains. In case of severe joint laxity, surgical treatment with reconstruction of the lateral ligamental complex is recommended. The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional outcome of patients treated with lateral ligament reconstruction with allograft for severe chronic lateral ankle instability.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study of ten patients who underwent allograft external non-anatomic ligamentoplasty for severe chronic lateral ankle instability between 2009 and 2011, with an average follow-up of 16.3 months (SD 8.2). Median age at surgery was 29 years (range 25-35). All patients presented both ATFL and CFL lesion. Patients were evaluated using American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score, Karlsson-Peterson score, Tegner activity level, Sefton stability scale, and objective examination comprehending range of motion, anterior drawer sign and talar tilt test. Telos stress equipment was used for pre- and post-operative radiographic laxity testing.

RESULTS

Follow-up examination at an average of 16.3 months (SD 8.2) after surgery showed significant improvement of all variables compared to pre-operative values (p < 0.001). Most patients rated their outcome as good/excellent. Telos stress radiographs documented improvement in joint stability.

CONCLUSIONS

Lateral ligament reconstruction with allograft represents a valid treatment option in patients with severe chronic lateral ankle instability.

Hemi-Castaing ligamentoplasty for the treatment of chronic lateral ankle instability: a retrospective assessment of outcome

PURPOSE

In the treatment of chronic ankle instability, most non-anatomical reconstructions use the peroneus brevis tendon. This, however, sacrifices the natural ankle stabilising properties of the peroneus brevis muscle. The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional outcome of patients treated with a hemi-Castaing procedure, which uses only half the peroneus brevis tendon.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent hemi-Castaing ligamentoplasty for chronic lateral ankle instability between 1993 and 2010, with a minimum of one year follow-up. Patients were sent a postal questionnaire comprising five validated outcome measures: Olerud-Molander Ankle Score (OMAS), Karlsson Ankle Functional Score (KAFS), Tegner Activity Level Score (pre-injury, prior to surgery, at follow-up), visual analog scale on pain (VAS) and the Short Form 36 (SF-36).

RESULTS

Twenty patients completed the questionnaire on functional outcome. The OMAS showed good to excellent outcome in 80% and the KAFS in 65%, the Tegner Score improved from surgery but did not reach pre-injury levels, the VAS on pain was 1 of 10 and the SF-36 returned to normal compared with the average population.

CONCLUSIONS

Even though most patients were satisfied with the results, outcome at long-term follow-up was less favourable compared with the literature on anatomical reconstructions. In accordance with the literature, we therefore conclude that the initial surgical treatment of chronic lateral ankle instability should be an anatomical repair with augmentation (i.e. the Broström-Gould technique) and the non-anatomical repair should be reserved for unsuccessful cases after anatomical repair or in cases where no adequate ligament remnants are available for reconstruction.

Chronic ankle and subtalar joint instability in the athlete

Chronic ankle and subtalar joint (STJ) instability is a common clinical entity and the physician must be able to determine the exact pathologic condition for proper treatment. There are many diagnostic techniques that can be used to evaluate the ankle joint and STJ. These diagnostic techniques do not take the place of a proper patient history taking. Appropriate and aggressive rehabilitation should be attempted in all cases of chronic ankle and subtalar instability before electing surgical reconstruction.

Clinical study of chronic lateral ankle instability: injured ligaments compared with stress X-ray examination

BACKGROUND

A comparative analysis of ankle stress X-ray findings and the condition of injured ligaments in patients with chronic lateral ankle instability was performed to determine a method of identifying the condition of injured ligaments prior to operation.

METHODS

Altogether, 36 males and 80 females were included in the study. The average age at the time of operation was 29.4 years. Anterior drawer distances and talar tilt angles were measured manually. During the operations, the injured ligaments were classified into 25 categories.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

The condition of the injured ligaments in patients with a talar tilt angle of more than 15 degrees had injured ligaments that were almost avulsed and degenerated or completely absent.

Accuracy of posterior subtalar joint injection without fluoroscopy

Injection into the posterior subtalar joint has not been validated for accuracy using radiographic end points. We asked whether needle placement into a normal posterior subtalar joint could be performed accurately and selectively by experienced surgeons without fluoroscopic guidance. Three fellowship-trained orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons each injected the posterior subtalar joint of 20 cadaveric specimens using an anterolateral approach. Fluoroscopic images were obtained by an independent investigator and blinded. A separate fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon interpreted the images. Of 60 injections, 58 were accurate and two were extraarticular based on interpretation by an independent foot and ankle surgeon. Extravasation into the ankle occurred in 14 samples and into the peroneal sheath in two samples. Experienced surgeons can place intraarticular injections into a radiographically normal posterior subtalar joint without fluoroscopy with a high degree of accuracy. However, extravasation into the ankle or peroneal tendon sheath occurred in an unpredictable fashion, suggesting selectivity of injection placement is relatively limited without the use of fluoroscopy. Fluoroscopy may not be necessary for injections used solely for therapeutic purposes. However, if the injection is intended for diagnostic purposes or to assist in surgical decision-making or if the joint is abnormal, we recommend fluoroscopy to ensure the subtalar joint is the only anatomic structure impacted by the injection.

Reconstruction of the lateral ankle ligaments with allograft in patients with chronic ankle instability

The management of chronic lateral instability of the ankle remains controversial. In general, the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) must be reconstructed in all patients. Some will also need reconstruction of the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) (or its function) to regain stability of both the ankle and the subtalar joints, and to avoid recurrence of instability. After reconstruction, most authors report good to excellent results in 80% to 85% of patients. We describe the augmented reconstruction technique of ATFL and CFL with a semitendinosus tendon allograft through a peroneal bone tunnel fixed with biodegradable anchors, and advocate this procedure as a safe, effective method to manage lateral ankle instability.

Quality of reporting of orthopaedic diagnostic accuracy studies is suboptimal

Complete and accurate reporting of diagnostic research are essential to assess the validity of its results. To improve the quality of reporting of diagnostic accuracy studies, the Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy (STARD) steering committee has developed a checklist of 25 items. We asked whether the quality of reporting of diagnostic accuracy studies published in three major orthopaedic journals (Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery British Volume, and Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery American Volume) would be similar across levels of study, journals, and years of publication, and would be similar to other subspecialty journals. We identified 37 articles from 2002-2004 diagnostic accuracy studies and applied the STARD checklist and scoring system. The scores ranged from 6.6 to 21.4 with a mean of 15 +/- 3.3. Only 38% of the articles (14 of 37) reported more than 2/3 of the items, and the majority failed to report nine specific items. The mean STARD scores were similar between the studies with different levels of evidence, across the three journals, and across the three years of publication. They were similar to scores for other subspecialty journals. The current standards of reporting of diagnostic accuracy studies in orthopaedic journals are suboptimal.

Second metatarsophalangeal joint arthrography: a cadaveric correlation study

Arthrography of the second metatarsophalangeal joint is an important diagnostic tool to evaluate the integrity of the plantar plate and to aid in the decision process for surgical intervention. A variety of filling patterns have been identified with lesser metatarsophalangeal joint arthrography and their significance with soft-tissue pathology remains to be completely understood. The purpose of this cadaveric study was to evaluate dye patterns in a series of arthrograms of the second metatarsophalangeal joint and to correlate them with identifiable anatomic lesions or structural variants. Thirty-nine cadaveric specimens (including 28 matched pairs) underwent second metatarsophalangeal joint arthrography with a colored radiopaque dye. Arthrographic findings were observed and recorded. Specimens exhibiting dye extravasation outside of the capsular constraints of the joint were dissected to discover any soft-tissue abnormalities. Twenty-one percent of specimens exhibited abnormal extravasation of dye outside of the joint capsule. A plantar plate tear was identified in 2 of these specimens. Filling of the first intermetatarsophalangeal bursa occurred in 6 specimens. However, because this finding was identified in 2 matched pairs, an anatomic variance is suggested rather than a pathologic entity. This cadaveric study shows that anatomic variances exist concerning the second metatarsophalangeal capsule and that arthrography should be correlated with the clinical scenario.

Diagnosis and Management of the Painful Ankle/Foot. Part 2: Examination, Interpretation, and Management

Diagnosis, interpretation, and subsequent management of ankle/foot pathology can be challenging to clinicians. A sensitive and specific physical examination is the strategy of choice for diagnosing selected ankle/foot injuries and additional diagnostic procedures, at considerable cost, may not provide additional information for clinical diagnosis and management. Because of a distal location in the sclerotome and the reduced convergence of afferent signals from this region to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, pain reference patterns are low and the localization of symptoms is trustworthy. Effective management of the painful ankle/foot is closely linked to a tissue-specific clinical examination. The examination of the ankle/foot should include passive and resistive tests that provide information regarding movement limitations and pain provocation. Special tests can augment the findings from the examination, suggesting compromises in the structural and functional integrity of the ankle/foot complex. The weight bearing function of the ankle/foot compounds the clinician's diagnostic picture, as limits and pain provocation are frequently produced only when the patient attempts to function in weight bearing. As a consequence, clinicians should consider this feature by implementing numerous weightbearing components in the diagnosis and management of ankle/foot afflictions. Limits in passive motion can be classified as either capsular or non-capsular patterns. Conversely, patients can present with ankle/foot pain that demonstrates no limitation of motion. Bursitis, tendopathy, compression neuropathy, and instability can produce ankle/foot pain that is challenging to diagnose, especially when they are the consequence of functional weight bearing. Numerous non-surgical measures can be implemented in treating the painful ankle/foot, reserving surgical interventions for those patients who are resistant to conservative care.