Simple 1-Step Ankle Arthroscopy Distraction.

Abstract

Ankle arthroscopy has emerged as a viable treatment option for multiple ankle pathologies and continues to have expanding indications as technology and techniques improve. Historically, ankle arthroscopy used skeletal traction, and it has transitioned to noninvasive soft-tissue distraction because of high rates of iatrogenic complications. Although soft-tissue distraction has decreased complications, it continues to be both cumbersome and time-consuming. Thus we propose a 1-step simple ankle arthroscopy distraction technique that uses an external positioning arm to allow the surgeon to apply manual traction in multiple positions without the use of any reprocessed sterile equipment.