Evaluation of functional deficits using the Ankle-GO™ score before and after arthroscopic anatomic lateral ankle ligament reconstruction among patients suffering from chronic ankle instability.

Abstract

To evaluate the evolution of ankle deficits in patients suffering from chronic ankle instability (CAI) following an arthroscopic anatomic lateral ankle ligament reconstruction (AALALR) based on Ankle-GO™. This prospective cohort (2022-2023) included patients suffering from CAI who underwent an AALALR. The primary outcome was the evolution of ankle deficits at 5 months postsurgery, assessed using the Ankle-GO™, which includes the modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT), Figure-of-8 Test (F8T), Side Hop Test (SHT) and Single-Leg Stance Test (SLS), the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Activity of Daily Living [FAAM-ADL] and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Sport [FAAM-Sport]) and the Ankle Ligament Reconstruction-Return to Sport after Injury (ALR-RSI) scale. Secondary outcome was the return to sports (RTS). Factors influencing lower postoperative Ankle-GO^TM were evaluated. Fifty patients (mean age 29.8 ± 11.1 years) were included. The Ankle-GO™ score increased significantly from 8.2 ± 4.7 to 13.9 ± 5.4 at 5 months postoperatively (p < 0.01; r = 0.80). Among the individual components, ALR-RSI showed the greatest improvement, rising from 28.0% to 69.0% (p < 0.01; r = 0.86), followed by FAAM-Sport (56.5%-80.1%; p < 0.01; r = 0.71). The FAAM-ADL score increased significantly from 82.4% to 91.8% (p < 0.01). The F8T did not improve significantly (p > 0.05). At 5 months, 35 patients (70.0%) had returned to sport, although only 11 (31.4%) had resumed at their pre-injury level. Preoperative Ankle-GO™ was lower in patients not returning to sport (6.4 vs. 9.1; p = 0.04). This short-term study confirmed that the Ankle-GO™ score effectively tracks recovery following AALALR. The score reflects improvements in both static and dynamic stability as well as psychological readiness. Additionally, preoperative scores were found to predict a patient's ability to RTS. Level II, prospective cohort study.