Background: No reported study has compared clinical and radiologic outcomes between an all-inside arthroscopic modified Broström operation (MBO) and an open MBO. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and radiologic outcomes of all-inside arthroscopic and open MBOs. Methods: From August 2012 to July 2014, 48 patients were included. They were divided into 2 groups: all-inside arthroscopic MBO (25 patients) and open MBO (23 patients). The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle–hindfoot score, visual analog scale (VAS) score, and Karlsson score were used to evaluate clinical outcomes. Anterior talar translation and talar tilt were used to evaluate radiologic outcomes. All patients had lateral ankle instability. MBO was performed in 87 patients. Of these, 50 patients met the inclusion criteria. All patients had giving way, persistent pain, and an inability to resume their preinjury activity level for more than 6 months. Patients were randomized into 2 groups, all-inside arthroscopic MBO and open MBO, using a permuted block randomization method. Clinical outcome evaluations were performed preoperatively, at 6 weeks and 6 months postoperatively, and at a final follow-up at a minimum of 12 months postoperatively using the Karlsson score, the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score, and pain VAS scores. Radiologic outcome evaluations were performed preoperatively and at 1 year postoperatively at final follow-up using anterior talar translation, and talar tilt angle. Results: After randomization, 25 ankles were allocated to the all-inside arthroscopic MBO group and 25 to the open MBO group. Two ankles in the open MBO group were excluded from the analysis because they were lost to follow-up. Thus, evaluations were performed for 25 ankles in the all-inside arthroscopic MBO group and 23 in the open MBO group. There was no difference in age, gender, symptom duration, preoperative AOFAS, VAS, Karlsson scores, anterior talar translation, or talar tilt between the 2 groups (all P > .05). At the final follow-up, the AOFAS, VAS, and the Karlsson scores had improved significantly in both groups ( P < .001). There was no difference in the Karlsson, AOFAS, or VAS scores, anterior talar translation, or talar tilt between the 2 groups at final follow-up (all P > .05). Conclusions: There was no difference in the clinical or radiologic outcome between the all-inside arthroscopic MBO and open MBO for the treatment of lateral ankle instability at up to 1 year after surgery. An all-inside arthroscopic MBO should be considered carefully in patients who have lateral ankle instability. Level of Evidence: Level I, randomized controlled trial.

The purpose of this present study was to determine the incidence of lateral cortical fracture depending on the plane of osteotomy in medial open-wedge supramalleolar osteotomy (SMO) and to define a safe zone through which a medial open-wedge SMO could be performed with minimal risk of lateral cortical fracture. Matched pairs of fresh-frozen human cadaver lower leg specimens were obtained from 7 males and 3 females (average age = 63.9 [range 49–75] years). In group A, a safe zone-level medial open-wedge SMO (plane of osteotomy oriented to the proximal one-third of the intrasyndesmosis) was performed, and in group B, a higher-level medial open-wedge SMO (plane of osteotomy oriented to the suprasyndesmosis) was performed. In group A, 7 of the 10 limbs had no lateral cortical fracture, and 3 had lateral cortical fracture, but all of the fractured limbs were stable during the medial open-wedge SMO procedure. In group B, 2 of 10 limbs had no lateral cortical fracture and 8 had lateral cortical fracture. Three of the 8 fractured limbs were stable, but 5 were unstable during the medial open-wedge SMO procedure. The incidence of lateral cortical fracture in group B was significantly higher compared to group A (P = .04). According to the present findings, lateral cortical fracture was less likely to occur when open-wedge SMO was at the plane of the proximal one-third of the intrasyndesmosis, the so-called “safe zone,” than at the plane of the suprasyndesmosis. A safe zone for medial open-wedge SMO to prevent lateral cortical fracture during the medial open-wedge SMO procedure was identified.

Injury of the extensor hallucis longus (EHL) tendon is relatively rare, but surgical repair is necessary to prevent deformity and gait disturbance. Primary suturing is possible if the condition is acute, but not when it is chronic. The scar tissue between the ruptured ends is a proliferative tissue composed of fibroblasts and collagen fibers. Given the histological similarity to normal tendons, several studies have reported tendon reconstruction using scar tissue. Here, we report a reconstruction of a neglected EHL rupture using interposed scar tissue. A 54-year-old female visited our clinic with a weak extension of a big toe. She had dropped a knife on her foot a month prior, but did not go to hospital. The wound had healed, but she noted dysfunctional extension of the toe and increasing pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed that EHL continuity was lost and that the proximal tendon stump was displaced toward the midfoot. Scar tissue running in the direction of the original ligament was observed between the ruptured ends. In the surgical field, the scar tissue formed a shape similar to the extensor tendon. Therefore, we performed tendon reconstruction using the interposed scar tissue. For the first 2 postoperative weeks, the ankle and foot were immobilized to protect the repair. Six weeks after surgery, the patient commenced full weight-bearing. At the 3-month follow-up, active extension of the hallux was possible, with a full range of motion. The patient did not feel any discomfort during daily life. Postoperative MRI performed at 1 year revealed that the reconstructed EHL exhibited homogeneously low signal intensity, and was continuous. The AOFAS Hallux Metatarsophalangeal-Interphalangeal scale improved from 57 to 90 points and the FAAM scores improved from 74% to 95% (the Activities of Daily Living subscale) and from 64% to 94% (the Sports subscale). Scar tissue reconstruction is as effective as tendon autografting or allografting, eliminates the risk of donor site morbidity and infection, and requires only a small incision and a short operative time.