Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability: Results of Anatomic Repair with Polyester Tape Augmentation

Background. Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries in both athletes and the general population. A major problem accompanying ankle injury is the high rate of recurrence, with about 20% of acute ankle sprain patients developing chronic ankle instability. Unlike acute ankle sprain, chronic ankle instability usually needs surgical intervention. Various anatomic reconstruction techniques using the ruptured ends of the ligaments to restore stability have gained popularity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional results of the treatment of chronic lateral ankle instability with anatomic repair of the injured ligaments and reinforcement with polyester tape. Material and methods. A prospective study of 30 consecutive patients who underwent anatomic reconstruction of the lateral ligaments using transosseous suturing and augmentation using a polyester tape done at a single centre by a single surgeon from 2016 to 2017. All patients were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively at 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS) and Free Online Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) were recorded and used for results analysis. Results. At 12 months’ follow-up, the AOFAS had improved from mean 52.47 ± 2.06 to 91.0 ± 6.03 (p< 0.001) .The FAAM mean score had improved from mean 55.21± 1.9 to 90.43 ± 4.02 Conclusion. The ankle ligament reconstruction with additional polyester tape augmentation is an effective technique in treating chronic ankle instability with a satisfactory surgical outcome.