Chronic lateral ankle instability increases the likelihood for surgery in athletes with os trigonum syndrome.

PURPOSE: The etiology and incidence of os trigonum syndrome in professional athletes is highly variable. There is a paucity of data to ascertain why some athletes evolve towards surgery whilst others remain asymptomatic. We hypothesized that a lateral ligament ankle injury would increase the likelihood for surgery in those athletes with os trigonum syndrome. METHODS: Eighty professional athletes with clinical and radiological signs of os trigonum syndrome were identified to ascertain the incidence of injury to the lateral ligamentous ankle complex (acute and chronic) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This cohort was subdivided into 2 groups; a surgical (n = 40) and a non-surgical (n = 40) cohort. Surgical division was decided if (1) the clinical hyper-plantar flexion test was positive, (2) a positive diagnostic ultrasound-guided injection and (3) no improvement was observed after 6 weeks of conservative rehabilitation. RESULTS: From the surgical cohort, 37 players (94.1%) had a chronic lateral ankle ligament injury on MRI, whilst 3 players (5.9%) had an acute lateral ankle ligament injury. Binary logistic linear modelling revealed that having a chronic lateral ligament injury increases the likelihood of os trigonum syndrome surgery by ten times compared to those with an acute lateral ligament injury. CONCLUSION: Professional athletes with chronic lateral ligament ankle injury have an approximate ten times greater risk for os trigonum syndrome surgery compared to athletes with acute lateral ligament ankle injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Return to Play After a Lateral Ligament Ankle Sprain.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to describe the current evidence on the most common sports-related ankle injuries. Joint anatomy, epidemiology, clinical findings, diagnostic approach, and treatment are presented with a specific focus on the available evidence towards return to play. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent findings show that ankle sprain is the most common injury in the world of sports. Bony fractures, cartilage defects, and syndesmotic lesions are frequently seen in association with the more severe type of ankle sprains. In summary, the majority of the athletes' ankle sprains are managed conservatively with excellent outcomes and full return to their pre-injury level of play. However, it is essential to differentiate the single ligament sprain from a more complex injury to the ankle joint. The evidence-based treatment and rehabilitation programmes are associated with a better prognosis and a faster time to return to sport participation.

A combined tension-band braided polyester and suture button technique is a valuable treatment alternative for transverse patellar fractures in athletes.

PURPOSE: Transverse patellar fractures (TPFs) are uncommon in athletes, and their treatment can be challenging. Stable fixation is commonly achieved by compression screw fixation and stainless steel cerclage wire, but this technique can be associated with complications like nonunion, infection and the need for early hardware removal. We used a combined tension-band (figure-of-eight) braided polyester and suture button technique to treat four athletes who presented with transverse patellar fractures. This technique has shown to be a valuable alternative to the classic technique and allows for adequate fracture compression, stability and union in TPF. METHODS: Using a tension-band braided polyester and suture button technique (Arthrex FibreTapeR&TightRopeR), we treated four athletes with transverse patellar fractures from September 2015 till January 2017. The polyester was looped over the four suture button fixation points and tensioned in a figure-of-eight fashion. The average age of the athletes was 26 years (range 17-36). Follow-up ranged from 5 to 21 months. All four patients were treated using the same surgical technique (minimally invasive surgery) with the same postoperative recovery and the same physiotherapy protocol. RESULTS: Full recovery using suture button adjustable loop fixation device was obtained in all four cases within 3 months after surgery, with fracture healing confirmed on postoperative radiographs. No patients required hardware removal. Potential problems with this technique can include bony tunnel malpositioning or soft tissue interpositioning underneath the suture buttons. CONCLUSION: The combination of a suture button fixation and a braided polyester tension-band technique has shown to be a valuable alternative to the fracture management of transverse patella fractures in athletes. This results in fracture healing, low risk of complications and no need for hardware removal.