title: Arthroscopic synovectomy in the treatment of functional ankle instability: outcomes and gait analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Natural consequence of repetitive ankle sprains is the chronic ankle instability. Objective of this study was to clarify the gait patterns of functional ankle instability (FAI) patients after arthroscopic synovectomy, but also assessment of postoperative recovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Arthroscopic synovectomy was performed to 14 FAI patients with history of unilateral repetitive ankle sprains, pain, and subjective sensation of instability. At a mean 54 months of follow-up (27-84), clinical assessment was conducted with respect to pain, number of ankle sprains, and American Orthopaedics Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores. Gait analysis was conducted to determine the temporospatial, kinetic and kinematic parameters at the last follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean AOFAS scores increased from 68 (range 55-75) to 89 (range 77-100) points (P < 0.01). Mean ankle sprains was 13 in a period of 23 (range 14-48) months (0.58 per month) and decreased to three sprains in a mean time period of 54 months (0.053 per month) (P < 0.01). Mean preoperative and postoperative VAS scores were 8.0 and 2.9, respectively (P < 0.01). During gait analysis, no significant differences were found in ankle joint, including foot progression angles, ankle dorsi-plantar flexion degrees and ground reaction forces (P > 0.01). Among temporospatial parameters, only double support time showed a significant difference (P < 0.01). All patients were satisfied from the procedure and returned to their previous activity level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improved long-term clinical results and scores were obtained in our patient group when compared with the preoperative scores. Also, three-dimensional gait analysis showed that the involved ankles demonstrate similar gait patterns to the uninvolved ankles in patients with FAI.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedics and Traumatology Department, Medical Faculty, Medical School of Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey, egemenaltan@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Egemen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Altan
authors.forename: Mehmet Ugur
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Ozbaydar
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tonbul
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Şenaran
authors.forename: Yener
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Temelli
authors.forename: Ekin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Akalan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000150:complications; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D001182:Arthroscopy; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000150:complications; D000074402:Synovectomy; D014741:Video Recording; D055815:Young Adult