Does Sectioning and Then Repairing of the Calcaneofibular Ligament at Subtalar Approach Lead to Residual Lateral Ankle Instability?

Document Type : RESEARCH PAPER

Authors

1 Department of Orthopedic and Traumatology, Prof. Dr. Cemil Taşçıoğlu City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

2 Department of Orthopedic and Traumatology, Medicana International Istanbul Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

3 Department of Orthopedic and Traumatology, Prof. Dr. Cemil Taşcıoğlu City Hospital, Istanbul, TURKEY

Abstract

Background: The calcaneofibular ligament is cut to increase vision in surgical field in minimally invasive surgery 
of displaced intraarticular calcaneus fractures with subtalar incision. We aimed to investigate whether this causes 
talar tilt instability in ankle stress radiographs due to the calcaneofibular ligament deficiency in postoperative period.
Methods: The files of 38 patients who were operated with the diagnosis of displaced calcaneus fracture between 2013 
and 2018 were examined retrospectively. All the cases underwent with subtalar approach and the calcaneofibular 
ligament was repaired after the operation. The age, sex, injury mechanism, follow-up length, type of fracture by 
the Sanders classification, preoperative and postoperative Bohler’s and Gissane’s angle measurements, talar tilt 
measurements of intact and fractured side, postoperative calcaneal length, calcaneal height and calcaneal width of 
the cases were recorded. The obtained data were evaluated statistically. 
Results: 31 (81.6%) of the cases were men, seven (18.4%) were women. The average age was 31.92±7.95 years. 
The average follow-up time was 15.82±3.33 months. The preoperative Bohler’s angle was 14.16±3.67 degree, while 
the postoperative Bohler’s angle was 31.53±4.60 degree (P<0.05). The average talar tilt was 0.96±0.87 degrees on 
the intact side and 1.19±1.12 degrees on the fractured side (P:0.001). Although the talar tilt values were statistically 
higher on the fractured side than the intact side, no radiological instability finding was found in any case. The average 
postoperative Gissane’s angles were 126.45±6.69 degrees. The calcaneal length (P:0.665), calcaneal width (P:0.212) 
and calcaneal height (P:0.341) were statistically similar between the postoperative fractured foot and intact foot.
Conclusion: Sectioning of the calcaneofibular ligament in the surgical treatment with subtalar approach does 
not cause lateral ankle instability in stress radiographs but may cause laxity. Possible postoperative lateral ankle 
injuries can be prevented by ankle proprioception exercises.
Level of evidence: III

Keywords

References

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The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery
Volume 10, Issue 4
April 2022
Pages 347-352

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History

  • Receive Date: 11 December 2020
  • Revise Date: 24 August 2021
  • Accept Date: 26 August 2021

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