Introduction: To compare the early result between arthroscopic and traditional open repair of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) with inferior extensor retinaculum (IER) reinforcement for lateral instability of the ankle (LIA).
Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed cases that had been surgically treated for LIA and compared two treatment groups: those treated with an open procedure (Group O) vs those treated with an arthroscopic procedure (Group A). The parameters compared between the groups were visual analog scale (VAS) score at 3 days and 2 weeks after surgery, duration of surgery, time to return to daily activities and sports activities, postoperative complications, recurrence of the instability, and Japanese Society for Surgery of the foot ankle-hindfoot (JSSF) scale score before and at 1 year after surgery.
Results: Significant differences were seen in the mean duration of surgery, mean VAS score at 3 days, and mean time to return to daily activities between the groups. Two patients had temporary numbness in Group A, while 3 patients had wound irritation and 1 patient had temporary numbness in Group O. Ankle instability did not recur in either group. There was no significant difference in either preoperative or postoperative JSSF scale score between the groups.
Conclusions: Compared with the open procedure, arthroscopic ATFL repair with IER reinforcement for LIA had an equivalent clinical result at the 1-year follow-up and allowed early recovery after surgery.