Chronic Ankle Pain in Soldiers: The Role of Ankle Arthroscopy and Soft Tissue Excision

Abstract

We describe 13 cases of soft tissue impingement in the ankle by localized synovial proliferation and scar tissue. A number of papers have described symptomatic improvement in sportsmen who have undergone resection of this tissue. We report the results of this procedure in Army personnel. Of the 13 patients, 8 had excellent or good results, while 5 had poor results. Two of the latter subsequently revealed another significant problem and were then excluded, thus 8 out of 11 patients had an excellent or good result. We therefore believe that this procedure is useful in the management of chronic ankle pain in Army personnel.

Anterior Ankle Impingement

“…The success rate was 84 %. Comparable high percentages of good/excellent results, after arthroscopic treatment of synovial impingement lesions, were reported by others (Ferkel and Fasulo 1994 ;Clasper and Pailthorpe 1996 ;Meislin et al 1993 ;Thein and Eichenblat 1992 ). Less favorable results and a relatively high percentage of (18 %) temporary neurological complications were reported in a series by Jerosch et al ( 1994 ).…”

Ankle arthroscopy to manage sequelae after ankle fractures

“…As a result many such papers do not describe any rates of re-operation in their study participants [3,7,14,18,19]. Most studies report high rates of patient satisfaction but do not report on which further interventions, if any, are undertaken.…”

“…Studies on the arthroscopic treatment of anterolateral impingement, synovitis and the management of osteochondral lesions of the talar dome have often reported their results using a rating scale developed by Ogilvie‐Harris [12]. As a result many such papers do not describe any rates of re‐operation in their study participants [3, 7, 14, 18, 19]. Most studies report high rates of patient satisfaction but do not report on which further interventions, if any, are undertaken.…”