title: A novel patient-specific navigational template for anatomical reconstruction of the lateral ankle ligaments.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We discuss the clinical effects of anatomical reconstruction of the lateral ankle ligaments to treat chronic lateral ankle instability (CAI) by creating fibular channels with a patient-specific navigational template.
  
  
  METHODS
  From August 2010 to February 2014, 15 patients presenting with CAI were treated by creating fibular channels with a patient-specific navigational template for anatomical reconstruction of the lateral ankle ligaments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients were followed up for nine to 24 months postoperatively (15 months on average); no recurrent CAI was found. Pre- and postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores for patients in the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) plus anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) repair group were 48.3 ± 5.1 and 88.1 ± 6.7) respectively. The difference (average 39.8) showed high statistical significance (P < 0.001). Pre- and postoperative scores in the ATFL group were 50.4 ± 6.2 and 90.3 ± 7.8, respectively. The difference (average 39.9) showed high statistical significance (P < 0.001). Regarding the Good score, 14 patients were rated as "excellent and one as good (good = 100 %). No severe complications were found in the patients in this group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We studied and successfully built a digital navigation template for creating fibular channels to anatomically reconstruct the lateral ankle ligament. By using the template, fibular channels could be built, and lateral ligaments could be anatomically reconstructed individually, easily and safely, which largely facilitates the treatment of CAI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Kunming General Hospital of Chengdu Military Area Command of Chinese PLA, Kunming, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sha
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area Command of Chinese PLA, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Kunming General Hospital of Chengdu Military Area Command of Chinese PLA, Kunming, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Kunming General Hospital of Chengdu Military Area Command of Chinese PLA, Kunming, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Kunming General Hospital of Chengdu Military Area Command of Chinese PLA, Kunming, China.
authors.forename: Chunxiao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Kunming General Hospital of Chengdu Military Area Command of Chinese PLA, Kunming, China.
authors.forename: Haotian
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area Command of Chinese PLA, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Kunming General Hospital of Chengdu Military Area Command of Chinese PLA, Kunming, China. xuyq_kz@163.com.
authors.forename: Yongqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000842:Ankle; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000601:surgery*; D017844:Lateral Ligament, Ankle / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Anatomical reconstruction; Chronic lateral ankle instability; Navigation; Rapid prototyping