title: Posterior ankle and subtalar arthroscopy: indications, technique, and results.
abstract: Over the decades, arthroscopy has grown in popularity for the treatment of many foot and ankle pathologies. While anterior ankle arthroscopy is a widely accepted technique, posterior ankle/subtalar arthroscopy is still a relatively new procedure. The goal of this review is to outline the indications, surgical techniques, and results of posterior ankle/subtalar arthroscopy. The main indications include: 1) osteochondral lesions (of subtalar and posterior ankle joint); 2) posterior soft tissue or bony impingement; 3) os trigonum syndrome; 4) posterior loose bodies; 5) flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tenosynovitis; 6) posterior synovitis; 7) subtalar (or ankle) joint arthritis; 8) posterior tibial, talar, or calcaneal fractures (for arthroscopic reduction and internal fixation). Although posterior ankle/subtalar arthroscopy has shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of many of the above mentioned conditions, thorough knowledge of the anatomy, correct indications, and a precise surgical technique are essential to produce good outcomes.
authors.affiliation: University of Torino, I Clinica Universitaria, CTO Hospital, Via Zuretti 29, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gasparetto
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Collo
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pisanu
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Villella
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Drocco
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cerlon
authors.forename: Davide Edoardo
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Bonasia