title: Surgical treatment for posterior ankle impingement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to provide an overview of both the open and endoscopic procedures used to treat posterior ankle impingement, as well as an analysis, evaluation, and comparison of their outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature search of the Medline, Embase (Classic), and CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) databases and the Cochrane Database of Clinical and Randomized Controlled Trials was performed. Quality of included studies was assessed by use of the Downs and Black scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After we reviewed 783 studies, 16 trials met the inclusion criteria. Of these trials, 6 reported on open surgical techniques and 10 evaluated endoscopic techniques. The complication rate (15.9% v 7.2%) and time to return to full activity (16.0 weeks v 11.3 weeks) differed between the 2 groups, both favoring endoscopic surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the level of evidence of the included studies is relatively low, it can be concluded that the endoscopic technique is superior to the open procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level IV, systematic review of Level IV studies.
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zwiers
authors.forename: Johannes I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Wiegerinck
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Murawski
authors.forename: Niall A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: C Niek
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: van Dijk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome