[Ankle arthroscopy--indications, findings and results].

Thirty-six consecutive ankle arthroscopies from 1991 to 1996 were reviewed. Indications for arthroscopy were loose bodies, osteochondritis dissecans, and post traumatic and degenerative ankle joints. Thirty patients were re-examined 5-60 months postoperatively (median follow-up 12 months). Among twelve patients with an ankle fracture, a loose body was arthroscopically removed from eight patients while the remaining four patients were treated with local synovectomy. Of these twelve patients, nine had no symptoms at follow-up. Of eight patients with initial ankle sprain, four had no symptoms after removal of soft tissue lesions. Of five patients with osteochondritis dissecans treated by drilling through the fragment into the subchondral bone or, alternatively, removal of small pieces, two had no symptoms at follow-up. Five patients with degenerative joint disease had no improvement after arthroscopical debridement. Ankle arthroscopy seems to provide an effective treatment of loose bodies and soft tissue impingement, but the results are not convincing in osteochondritis dissecans and are poor in degenerative ankle joint disease.