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.

PURPOSE: 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™.

METHODS

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-GOTM were evaluated.

RESULTS

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).

CONCLUSION

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 OF EVIDENCE: Level II, prospective cohort study.