EARLY ARTHROSCOPIC ANTERIOR TALOFIBULAR REPAIR: A CASE SERIES WITH PERSONAL TECHNIQUE

M. Conca¹, A. Abu-Mukh², F. Pezone², M. Alessio Mazzola^3,4*, G. Placella² and V. Salini^1,2

¹IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy;
²Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy;
³Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostic (DISC), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy;
⁴IRCCS Orthopaedic Clinic, Policlinic Hospital, San Martino, Genoa, Italy

*Correspondence to:
Mattia Alessio-Mazzola, MD
Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostic (DISC),
University of Genoa,
Viale Benedetto XV n. 6,
16132 Genova, Italy;
IRCCS Orthopaedic Clinic,
Policlinic Hospital San Martino,
Largo Rosanna Benzi 10,
16132 Genova, Italy
e-mail: mattia.alessio@hotmail.com

Received:  10 March 2022 Accepted: 01 April 2022

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ABSTRACT

Ankle sprains often disrupt the anterior talofibular ligament either partially or completely. Arthroscopy has been described for ligamentous repair yet has been implied in limited cases of acute injury. Beginning in 2015, we have treated 71 patients for anterior talofibular ligament injury. After the talofibular ligament injury diagnosis, an early surgical repair was performed for complete ruptures between days 1 and 3 following injury, which was feasible in 59 cases (83.1%) and 12 partial ruptures between days 9 and 30 following ankle sprain. One patient sustained a re-rupture during postoperative sports activity, and one patient reported longstanding ankle stiffness and pain, for which a second look determined the cause of pain to be a previously untreated osteophyte, whereas ligament integrity was confirmed. Literature suggests that arthroscopy is superior in identifying chondral lesions while permitting timely treatment. Arthroscopic repair of acute talofibular ligament ruptures is reliable, reduces the risk of chronic ankle symptoms following sprains, offers patients a higher quality of life, allows return to sports in less than 90 days, and reduces the risk of future re-injury.

KEYWORDS: talofibular ligament, arthroscopy, ligament repair, ankle sprain