Satisfactory patient reported outcomes at five years following primary repair with suture tape augmentation for anterior talofibular ligament injury.

Abstract

The Brostrom technique is widely accepted as the gold standard surgical intervention for the treatment of chronic lateral ankle instability. Concerns with persistent postoperative instability, incomplete restoration of preinjury biomechanical strength, and variable return-to-sport rates have, however, led to growing interest in novel augmentation procedures. Suture tape augmentation, which reinforces the anterior talofibular ligament and acts as a secondary stabilizer, is one such method. This study assesses 5-year patient-reported outcomes of primary repair with suture tape augmentation for anterior talofibular ligament injuries. Seventy-seven patients undergoing anterior talofibular ligament repair with suture tape augmentation were prospectively followed for at least 5-years. The visual analogue scale for pain (VAS), veteran rands 12 (VR-12) score, functional foot index (FFI), and the foot and ankle ability measure sports subscale (FAAM-S) were assessed at baseline, 2-year follow-up and 5-year follow-up. Of the seventy-seven patients initially included, sixty-eight (88.3%) completed follow-up. The median VAS, VR-12, FFI, and FAAM-S scores all demonstrated significant improvement at both 2-year and 5-year follow-up, compared to preoperative baseline. Only the FFI demonstrated improvement between the 2-year and 5-year follow-up timepoints. In conclusion, primary repair with suture tape augmentation for anterior talofibular ligament injury demonstrates satisfactory patient-reported outcomes at a minimum of 5-year follow-up. These results suggest that this technique should be considered as an alternative to conventional Brostrom repair for treatment of lateral ankle instability.