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Background: The open modified Broström anatomic repair technique is widely accepted as the reference standard for lateral ankle stabilization. Despite recent increases in publications regarding arthroscopic repair of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) for treatment of chronic ankle instability, research is lacking that compares the functional outcomes between arthroscopic repair and open repair procedures for chronic ankle instability. Purpose: To compare function and activity level after arthroscopic repair versus open repair of the ATFL in patients with lateral ankle instability. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: All patients who underwent arthroscopic or open surgical Broström repair of the ATFL between January 2012 and August 2014 were invited to participate in this study. All of the patients had consented for arthroscopic repair if feasible. In cases in which arthroscopic repair was impossible, the open modified Broström procedure was performed after arthroscopy. Patients accepted a systematic rehabilitation program postoperatively. American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, Karlsson Ankle Functional Score (KAFS), and Tegner activity score were used to evaluate ankle function preoperatively and at a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to evaluate the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the repaired ATFL. Results: A total of 60 patients were included in this study. They were assigned to 1 of 2 groups according to their surgical procedure: 23 patients underwent arthroscopic repair (arthroscopic group) and 37 patients underwent open repair (open group). No patient in either group had ankle instability at follow-up postoperatively. After surgery, the AOFAS score (P < .001), KAFS (P < .001), and Tegner activity score (P < .001) increased significantly in both groups. However, no significant difference was found in AOFAS score (93.3 ± 8.9 vs 92.4 ± 8.6; P = .7), KAFS (90.3 ± 12.5 vs 89.4 ± 10.6; P = .75), and Tegner score (5 ± 2 vs 5 ± 2; P = .61) between the arthroscopic group and the open group, respectively. As well, no significant difference was found in the mean SNR value of ATFL between the arthroscopic group and the open group (9.1 ± 2.7 vs 8.8 ± 2.3; P = .39, respectively). Conclusion: When compared with open lateral ankle repair, arthroscopic repair of lateral ankle ligament when feasible produced similarly favorable outcomes. Arthroscopic ATFL repair, as a minimally invasive technique, provided favorable outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have compared outcomes of Broström-Gould repair and allograft reconstruction. Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes and revision rates after Broström-Gould lateral ankle ligament repair versus anatomic allograft reconstruction in patients with lateral ankle instability. The hypothesis was that patients who underwent lateral ankle ligament repair would have outcomes and revision rates similar to those of patients who underwent anatomic allograft reconstruction. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: All patients who underwent surgical repair or reconstruction of the anterior talofibular ligament and/or the calcaneofibular ligament by a single surgeon between September 2009 and February 2013 were included in this study. Patients completed a subjective questionnaire at minimum 2 years after ankle surgery. Outcomes measures included the Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Score, Lysholm score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), Short Form–12 Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores, Tegner activity scale, and patient satisfaction with outcome. Detailed surgical data and intraoperative findings were documented at the time of surgery. All data were collected prospectively and reviewed retrospectively. Results: A total of 86 patients were included in this study: 45 men and 41 women (mean age, 38 years; range, 19-68 years) with a mean body mass index of 26.5 (range, 17.5-47.1). There were 61 (71%) patients in the repair cohort and 25 (29%) in the reconstruction cohort. There was no significant difference in age or sex between cohorts. Seventy-six (88%) patients had minimum 2-year follow-up (mean follow-up, 3.0 years; range, 2.0-5.3 years). There was no significant difference in FADI (87 vs 91; P = .553), AOFAS (77 vs 82; P = .372), Lysholm score (83 vs 87; P = .110), Tegner activity scale (6 vs 4; P = .271), patient satisfaction (9 vs 10; P = .058), WOMAC (8 vs 5; P = .264), or Short Form–12 PCS (51.3 vs 54.6; P = .169) or MCS (54.8 vs 51.5; P = .239) score between the repair cohort and the reconstruction cohort, respectively. No patient in either cohort underwent revision lateral ligament surgery. Conclusion: When compared with lateral ankle repair, anatomic allograft reconstruction produced similarly favorable outcomes, including high patient satisfaction, high function and activity levels, and no revision surgeries in either cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]