[Ligaments reconstruction for the treatment of lateral ankle instability].
OBJECTIVE
To study therapeutic effects of lateral ankle ligaments reconstruction for the treatment of chronic lateral instability of the ankle joint.


METHODS
From July 2005 to January 2008, among 13 patients with chronic lateral instability of the ankle joint, 10 patients were male and 3 patients were female, ranging in age from 24 to 45 years,with an average of 33 years. Anterior talo-fibular ligament (ATFL) and calcanea-fibular ligament (CFL) were anatomy reconstructed with a split peroneus brevis tendon graft for all patients. The ankle scoring system was used to evaluate ankle joint function before and after operation, which including stability, pain, locomotor activity and X-ray films.


RESULTS
All the patients were followed up ranged from 6 to 32 months, averaged 16.4 months. The postoperative scores of the ankles increased in respect to stability, pain and locomotor activity. The total average score increased from preoperative (43.54+/-7.04) to postoperative (73.38+/-4.17). There was significant difference between preoperative scores and postoperative scores (P<0.01). All the patients were satisfied with the results.


CONCLUSIONS
Anatomy reconstruct of the ATFL and CFL with a split peroneus brevis tendon graft (Sammarco method) is a practical method for lateral ankle instability and promise good results especially for patients complained of instability.
Zhou
Xiao-Bo
XB
Department of Orthopaedies, Taizhou Hospital, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang, China. dafuz@tom.com
Chen
Zhong-Yi
ZY
Liang
Jun-Bo
JB
D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017844:Lateral Ligament, Ankle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult