Inverse Relationship Between Radiographic Lateral Ankle Instability and Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus in Patients With Ankle Inversion Injuries

Skeletal Features of Talus in Hepple V Lesion

The present study was to determine the characteristics of the ankle skeletal structure in patients with talus Hepple V type. We conducted a retrospective study on the skeletal structure of the talus in 110 patients with Hepple V osteochondral lesions of the talus and in control participants. The radiographic measurements taken include the following: in the coronal plane - depth of talus frontal curvature, length of the lateral and medial malleolus; in the sagittal plane - radius and height of talus, angle of tibial lateral surface, tibiotalar sector, and vertical neck angle. The osteochondral lesion of the talus showed a significantly larger mean radius (mean ± SD, 21.4 ± 2.5 mm; p < .001) and height (mean ± SD, 26.0 ± 2.7 mm; p < .005). It also demonstrated a longer mean medial malleolus length (mean ± SD, 15.7 ± 2.4 mm; p < .005), a larger mean vertical neck angle (mean ± SD, 86.2 ± 5.4°; p < .050), and a greater mean tibial lateral surface angle (mean ± SD, 80.0 ± 4.5°; p < .001). And there was a greater mean frontal curvature depth (mean ± SD, 3.9 ± 0.6 mm; p < .005). Overall, this study found that patients with Hepple V osteochondral lesions of the talus had a larger vertical neck angle and tibial lateral surface angle, a longer talus radius and medial malleolus length, a higher talus height, and a deeper frontal curvature depth. STUDY DESIGNS: Retrospective Case-Control Study.

Effects of Peroneus Brevis versus Peroneus Longus Muscle Training on Muscle Function in Chronic Ankle Instability: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a common injury that can occur in daily life or sporting events. Injuries to the anterior talofibular, posterior talofibular, and calcaneofibular ligaments are common, and the core of rehabilitation training involves strengthening the peroneus muscle. Many studies on rehabilitation training have focused on strengthening the peroneus brevis muscle, and few studies have focused on specific training to strengthen the peroneus longus muscle. Therefore, this study aims to investigate changes in the symptoms and functions of patients by applying training to strengthen the peroneus longus and peroneus brevis muscles. Home-based training and mobile monitoring were utilized for 12 weeks, divided into peroneus brevis training (PBT) and peroneus longus training (PLT), in 52 adult males with CAI. Participation was voluntary, with enrollment done through a bulletin board, and intervention training allocation was randomly assigned and conducted in a double-blind manner. This study was registered as a trial protocol (KCT 0008478). Foot and ankle outcome scores (FAOS), isokinetic ankle strength tests, and Y-balance tests were performed before and after the intervention. Both PLT and PBT significantly improved in FAOS, inversion, and eversion at angular velocities of 30°/s and 120°/s and in the anterior and posterolateral directions of the Y-balance test (p < 0.05). Interaction effects by time and group were not significant for the FAOS (p > 0.05). However, PLT improved eversion muscle strength and muscle power to a greater degree, compared with PBT, in the anterior and posterolateral directions of the Y-balance test (p < 0.05). In conclusion, both PLT and PBT were effective for CAI patients; in addition, PLT had greater potential for improving strength and balance.

Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus: The Questions We Would Like Answered

Osteochondral lesions of the talus is common pathology that foot and ankle surgeons evaluate and treat. There is a variety of treatment modalities at the surgeon's disposal to repair these lesions, which include both open and arthroscopic surgical techniques. Although both open and arthroscopic techniques have a good success rate, there are still many debates and questions that surround this pathology. The goal of this article is to discuss some of the common questions that we ask ourselves and other surgeons.

Surgical management of concurrent lateral ankle instability and osteochondral lesions of the talus increases dynamic sagittal ankle range of motion

PURPOSE

A biomechanical study, in which imaging modalities are used to strictly include patients with concurrent lateral ankle instability (LAI) and osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT), is needed to demonstrate the static and dynamic ankle range of motion (ROM) restriction in these patients, and determine whether ankle ROM restriction can be corrected postoperatively.

METHODS

Eight patients with concurrent LAI and OLT treated with the arthroscopic modified Broström procedure and microfracture were recruited from June 2019 to January 2020. Patients were assessed using outcome scales, static ankle ROM, and a stair descent gait analysis for dynamic ankle ROM, a day prior to surgery and one year postoperatively. Eight healthy subjects were assessed using the same modalities upon recruitment. Operative outcomes and variables during stair descent were documented and compared among the preoperative, postoperative, and healthy groups. A curve analysis, one-dimensional statistical parametric mapping, was performed to compare the dynamic ankle kinematics and muscle activation curves over the entire normalised time series.

RESULTS

The functional outcomes of patients with concurrent LAI and OLT were significantly worse than those of healthy subjects preoperatively, but were partially improved postoperatively. Patients had decreased static and dynamic ROM preoperatively, and static ROM did not significantly increase postoperatively (preoperative, 39.6 ± 11.3; postoperative, 44.9 ± 7.1; healthy, 52.0 ± 4.6; p = 0.021). Patients showed increased dynamic ankle flexion ROM (preoperative, 41.2 ± 11.6; postoperative, 53.6 ± 9.0; healthy, 53.9 ± 3.4; p = 0.012) postoperatively, as well as increased peroneus longus activation (preoperative, 35.8 ± 12.0; postoperative, 55.4 ± 25.1; healthy, 71.9 ± 13.4; p = 0.002) and muscle co-contraction of the tibialis anterior and peroneus longus (preoperative, 69.4 ± 23.4; postoperative, 88.4 ± 9.3; healthy, 66.2 ± 18.1; p = 0.045).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with concurrent LAI and OLT had decreased static and dynamic sagittal ankle ROM and altered neuromuscular activation patterns. The arthroscopic modified Broström procedure and microfracture did not significantly increase the static sagittal ankle ROM. However, the dynamic sagittal ankle ROM, peroneus longus activation and muscle co-contraction of the tibialis anterior and peroneus longus increased postoperatively.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Concomitant osteochondral lesions of the talus affect the stair descent biomechanics of patients with chronic ankle instability: A pilot study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies on the kinematics of patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI) that did not incorporate MRI and arthroscopic assessment could not differentiate between patients with CAI without osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT) and patients with CAI and OLT and have thus presented contradictory results.

RESEARCH QUESTION

This study aimed to investigate the kinematic and electromyographic differences between patients with and without OLT.

METHODS

Sixteen subjects with CAI (eight without OLT and eight with OLT confirmed through MRI and arthroscopic assessment) and eight healthy subjects underwent gait analysis in a stair descent setting. The three groups' patient-reported outcomes; ankle joint range of motion in flexion, inversion and rotation; and muscle activation of the peroneus, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius during a gait cycle were analyzed and compared. A curve analysis, namely, one-dimensional statistical parametric mapping, was performed to compare the dynamic ankle kinematics and muscle activation curves over the entire normalized time series.

RESULTS

The patients with and without OLT had no difference in patient-reported outcomes. The maximal ankle plantarflexion of the patients without OLT and the healthy subjects was significantly larger than that of patients with OLT (p = 0.005). The maximal ankle internal rotation of patients without OLT was significantly larger than that of patients with OLT (p = 0.048). The peroneal activation during 0-6% of the gait cycle of patients with OLT was reduced compared with the healthy subjects.

SIGNIFICANCE

Patients with CAI and OLT and patients with CAI without OLT have no difference in patient-reported outcomes, but patients with OLT can be differentiated using the post-initial-contact peroneal activation deficit and the restriction of ankle plantarflexion and internal rotation during stair descent. These variables can be utilized to monitor the function of patients with CAI and their possibility of developing OLT.

Limited medial osteochondral lesions of the talus associated with chronic ankle instability do not impact the results of endoscopic modified Broström ligament repair

Background

The arthroscopic modified Broström procedure, with repair of the anterior talofibular ligament and extensor retinaculum, produces good functional outcomes in patients with chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI). CLAI can be associated with osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs). It remains unclear whether associated limited OLTs affect clinical outcomes in such patients.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 92 CLAI patients with and without OLTs undergoing an all-inside arthroscopic modified Broström procedure from June 2016 to May 2019. The patients were divided into non-lesion group (n = 32) and lesion group (n = 60) according to whether CLAI was associated or not with OLTs. All the osteochondral lesions less than 15 mm in diameter were managed with bone marrow stimulation techniques (arthroscopic microfracture) at the time of the arthroscopic modified Broström procedure. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores, Karlsson Ankle Function Score (KAFS), Anterior Talar Translation (ATT), Active Joint Position Sense (AJPS), and the rate of return to sports were compared in both groups.

Results

Increase in all the functional scores (VAS, AOFAS, KAFS, ATT, and AJPS) in both groups was, respectively, recorded 1 year and 2 years after surgery. At the 1-year and 2-year follow-up, there was no significant difference in the VAS, AOFAS, KAFS, ATT, and AJPS scores between the non-lesion and lesion groups.

Conclusion

In patients with CLAI who underwent an arthroscopic modified Broström procedure, the presence of limited OLTs (less than 15 mm in diameter), which required arthroscopic microfracture, did not exert any influence on outcome.

Level of Evidence

Level III, a retrospective comparative study.

Correlation of stress radiographs to injuries associated with lateral ankle instability

BACKGROUND

Stress radiographs have demonstrated superior efficacy in the evaluation of ankle instability.

AIM

To determine if there is a degree of instability evidenced by stress radiographs that is associated with pathology concomitant with ankle ligamentous instability.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 87 consecutive patients aged 18-74 who had stress radiographs performed at a single institution between 2014 and 2020 was performed. These manual radiographic stress views were then correlated with magnetic resonance imaging and operative findings.

RESULTS

A statistically significant association was determined for the mean and median stress radiographic values and the presence of peroneal pathology (P = 0.008 for tendonitis and P = 0.020 for peroneal tendon tears). A significant inverse relationship was found between the presence of an osteochondral defect and increasing degrees of instability (P = 0.043).

CONCLUSION

Although valuable in the clinical evaluation of ankle instability, stress radiographs are not an independent predictor of conditions associated with ankle instability.

Ankle Stability and Movement Coordination Impairments: Lateral Ankle Ligament Sprains Revision 2021

This revised clinical practice guideline (CPG) addresses the distinct but related lower extremity impairments of those with a first-time lateral ankle sprain (LAS) and those with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Depending on many factors, impairments may continue following injury. While most individuals experience resolution of symptoms, complaints of instability may continue and are defined as CAI. The aims of the revision were to provide a concise summary of the contemporary evidence since publication of the original guideline and to develop new recommendations or revise previously published recommendations to support evidence-based practice. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2021;51(4):CPG1-CPG80. doi:10.2519/jospt.2021.0302.