https://doi.org/10.1177/1071100720945703
Foot & Ankle International®
2020, Vol. 41(12) 1546–1552
© The Author(s) 2020
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DOI: 10.1177/1071100720945703
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Article
Introduction
Recurrent ankle instability following a lateral ankle ligament
reconstruction may be present after any type of reconstructive
procedure. Many surgical procedures have been described,
including direct anatomical repair/reconstruction (DAR)
procedures
2,16,22,25,34
and nonanatomical repair/reconstruction
(NAR). Both DAR and NAR procedures may involve the use
of autograft,
4,28,39
allograft,
14,20,38
or synthetic ligament.
23
Many of the surgical procedures described use the peroneus
brevis tendon as a static
12,17,19,21,30,40
or as a dynamic
tenodesis.
9
Broström advocated anatomical repair of the lat-
eral ankle ligaments, even at a late stage, as end-to-end repair
of the ruptured ligaments is possible several years after the
initial injury.
7,8,29,31
However, healing with intervening scar
tissue or lengthening may cause insufficiency of the repaired
945703FAI XX X 10.1177/1071100720945703Foot & Ankle InternationalPintore et al
research-article 2020
1
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Istituto Clinico Mediterraneo,
Agropoli (Salerno), Campania, Italy
2
Department of Musculoskeletal Disorders, Faculty of Medicine and
Surgery, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
3
Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno,
Via S. Allende, Baronissi (SA), Italy
4
Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, Barts and The London School
of Medicine and Dentistry, Mile End Hospital, Queen Mary University of
London, London, England
5
School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University School of
Medicine, Thornburrow Drive, Stoke on Trent, England
Corresponding Author:
Nicola Maffulli, MD, MS, PhD, FRCS (Orth), Centre for Sports and
Exercise Medicine, Barts and The London School of Medicine and
Dentistry, Mile End Hospital, Queen Mary University of London, 275
Bancroft Road, London, E1 4DG, England.
Email: n.maffulli@qmul.ac.uk
Extensor Retinaculum Flap and Fibular
Periosteum Ligamentoplasty After
Failed Surgery for Chronic Lateral
Ankle Instability
Ernesto Pintore, MD
1
, Lucio Cipollaro, MD
2,3
,
Raffaele Pintore, MD
1
, Francesco Oliva, MD, PhD
2,3
,
and Nicola Maffulli, MD, MS, PhD, FRCS (Orth)
2,3,4,5
Abstract
Background: The anterior talofibular ligament and the calcaneofibular ligament are 2 of the most frequently injured
structures in sports, being damaged in 30% to 45% of all sports injuries. Most reconstructive procedures are successful but
can deteriorate with time and can lead to low-grade radiographic degeneration.
Methods: We operated on 26 consecutive patients from 2001 to 2008 who had failed previous surgical procedures for
the lateral ligamentous complex of the ankle, with an average of 104 (range, 75-140) months.
Results: The overall functional rating was excellent in 14 ankles, good in 10, fair in 1, and poor in 1. Twenty-four
patients (92.3%) were satisfied with the procedure and 15 (57.7%) were able to return to their preinjury level of activity.
Local complications were detected in 2 patients who presented with skin necrosis; 1 patient developed severe reflex
sympathetic dystrophy.
Conclusion: Revision surgery for the management of failure after surgical treatment of chronic lateral ankle instability
is under debate, and the literature is devoid of clinical studies with long-term follow-up. The technique described offers
a high rate of long-term excellent and good results, with a low rate of complications and a good rate of return to
preinjury level.
Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.
Keywords: chronic lateral ankle instability, revision surgery, fibular periosteum ligamentoplasty, inferior extensor
retinaculum flap