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At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

The effect of ankle braces on the prevention of dynamic forced ankle inversion.

BACKGROUND: Athletes often employ prophylactic braces to reduce the risk of ankle injuries. HYPOTHESIS: Ankle braces do not significantly decrease the risk of forced inversion on a standardized one-footed jump landing. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Fourteen healthy men with a mean age of 25.1 years were tested. Three braces, two semirigid (Aircast and Bledsoe) and one lace-up (Swede-O), were fitted to each subject. Forced dynamic ankle inversion of 24 degrees was to be resisted as the subjects landed on one foot with a force of two body weights on a stimulus presented randomly in 5 of 15 jump trial blocks onto a hard, level force plate. Subjects first completed 1 no-brace block of 5 trials to establish baseline performance, then 3 randomly ordered 15-trial blocks testing performance with each of the braces, and then finally a no-brace 5-trial block. RESULTS: The average no-brace success rate was 24%, which demonstrated the challenging nature of the task. All three braces increased the success rate (average, 44%); however, only the two semirigid braces proved to be significantly better than the unbraced state. CONCLUSION: This test holds promise for evaluating brace efficacy when landing with one foot unexpectedly on an object that acts to forcibly invert the ankle.

Adult↗

The influence of an ankle orthosis on the talar and calcaneal motions in chronic lateral instability of the ankle. A stereophotogrammetric analysis.

The mechanical support provided by a semirigid ankle orthosis was tested in 14 ankles with symptoms of chronic lateral instability by use of stereophotogrammetric analysis. Talar and calcaneal rotations were measured with and without the Strong ankle orthosis during manual adduction test and adduction test with a predetermined torque (5 N-m). Significant reduction of talar and calcaneal plantar flexion, internal rotation, and varus angulation was noted when the orthosis was applied. The results of this study suggest that the semirigid orthosis may provide enough external support to prevent ankle sprains and to protect ligament reconstructions.

Adult↗

Dynamic ankle ultrasonography. A new imaging technique for acute ankle ligament injuries.

We have developed a noninvasive ultrasound technique that may be used to differentiate complete and incomplete acute tears of the anterior talofibular ligament. Direct visualization of the ligament will demonstrate the lesion in most cases and can be supplemented by an anterior drawer test with the ligament under direct vision. Seventeen athletes involved in sports and work that put high-demand pressure on their ankles underwent ultrasonic examination of their acute lateral ankle ligament injuries before surgical exploration. Fourteen scans demonstrating a complete lesion of the anterior talofibular ligament were confirmed at operation. Three scans were equivocal; two of these patients had incomplete lesions of their anterior talofibular ligaments and one patient had a complete tear that was not detected. We have found that the dynamic ultrasound test is a simple and reliable examination. We suggest that this technique is indicated where the extent of an acute lateral ligament injury requires further definition. Ankle ultrasonography may reduce the need for ankle arthrography.

Adolescent↗

Proprioception in classical ballet dancers. A prospective study of the influence of an ankle sprain on proprioception in the ankle joint.

We studied prospectively the influence of ankle sprains on proprioception as measured by recording the postural sway of classical ballet dancers. Excellent balance and coordination are important for classical ballet dancers, and postural stability requires adequate proprioception from the ankle joint. Fifty-three professional dancers from the Royal Swedish Ballet, Stockholm, and 23 nonathletes, the control group, participated in the investigation. Postural sway was recorded and analyzed with a stabilimeter using a specially designed, portable, computer-assisted force plate. Six dancers sustained ankle sprains during followup. The recordings were obtained of these dancers before and after the injuries. The stabilometry results differed among the male and female dancers and the control group as follows: 1) the male dancers demonstrated a smaller total area of sway, and 2) both the male and female dancers had a smaller mean sway on the left foot than on the right (no mean difference in sway was found between the left and right foot in the control group). In comparison with the condition before injury and with the uninjured foot, the postural stability of the dancer was impaired for several weeks after the ankle sprain. Postural stability gradually improved during rehabilitation and improvement still occurred several weeks after professional dancing had resumed.

Adult↗

Validation of the foot and ankle outcome score for ankle ligament reconstruction.

We studied the validity and reliability of the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) when used to evaluate the outcome of 213 patients (mean age 40 years, 85 females) who underwent anatomical reconstruction of the lateral ankle ligaments with an average postoperative follow-up of 12 years (range, three to 24 years). The FAOS is a 42-item questionnaire assessing patient-relevant outcomes in five separate subscales (Pain, Other Symptoms, Activities of Daily Living, Sport and Recreation Function, Foot- and Ankle-Related Quality of Life). The FAOS met set criteria of validity and reliability. The FAOS appears to be useful for the evaluation of patient-relevant outcomes related to ankle reconstruction.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Stiffness control in posterior-type plastic ankle-foot orthoses: effect of ankle trimline. Part 2: Orthosis characteristics and orthosis/patient matching.

The hingeless plastic ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) changes stiffness largely depending on how much plastic is trimmed around the ankle. To support proper selection of the orthosis and final adjustment of the orthotic stiffness, the correlation between the posterior upright width and the resistance to dorsi- and plantar flexion movements was measured in 30 posterior-type plastic AFOs. The posterior upright width was varied by regularly trimming around the ankle in nine stages. The resistance to dorsi- and plantar flexion movements was measured by bending the plastic AFOs 15 degrees with the measuring device described in Part 1. All the plastic AFOs decreased in their resistance to both movements in proportion to the reduction of the posterior upright width. The maximum resistance to plantar flexion movement was about 28 Nm, which was strong enough to assist dorsiflexion in patients with severe spasticity. On the other hand, the maximum resistance to dorsiflexion movement measured was about 10 Nm, which was insufficient to stabilise the ankle in patients who lacked in plantar flexion strength. These findings suggested that this type of plastic AFO should be prescribed for patients who predominantly require dorsiflexion assist, and that the orthotic stiffness could be finally adjusted by trimming to exactly meet individual requirements.

Adult↗

Rheumatoid arthritis of the ankle: the role of total ankle arthroplasty.

The indications for total ankle replacement are limited to older patients with rheumatoid arthritis, especially those with multiple joint involvement and limited physical activity. The recommended surgical technique for total ankle arthroplasty includes an anterior surgical approach, minimal bone resection, and meticulous technique for cemented fixation of components. The results of published studies suggest total ankle arthroplasty should not be performed in patients who have had previous surgery on the ankle or foot, or who are younger than 57 years of age.

Age Factors↗

[Application of the Ottawa ankle rules in the ankle and midfoot injuries: verification of the method on the basis of own material].

The aim of study was to verify the specificity and usefulness of the Ottawa Ankle Rules in trauma patients. Prospective observations were made on 103 adult patients (48 males and 55 females aged 16 to 74 years). Clinical examination was subsequently verified by radiography. According to Ottawa Rules pain in the posterior aspect of distal 6 cm of tibia or fibula or pain at fifth metatarsal or navicular bone occurring immediately after injury suggests bone fracture. In 78 cases (75%) no fracture was seen on X-ray; ankle sprain and midfoot sprain was diagnosed in 49 (63%) and 19 (37%) patients respectively. Fractures have been found in 26 patients (25%); 19 in the ankle area and 7 within tuberosity of the fifth metatarsal. Diagnosis set according to Ottawa Ankle Rules was confirmed radiologically in 89 patients (86%). Clinically diagnosed fracture was ruled out radiologically in 14 cases (13%) and only once (1%) radiogram revealed fracture missed clinically. In our material specificity of the method was 86% and the risk of misdiagnosed fracture was less than 1 percent.

Adolescent↗

Symptoms of chronic arterial insufficiency correlate with absolute ankle pressure better than with ankle: brachial index.

BACKGROUND: Doppler-based measurement of the ankle: brachial index (ABI) has long been regarded as the standard by which to objectively quantify the degree of lower extremity arterial occlusive disease, but this method fails to account for the contribution of systemic blood pressure to actual limb perfusion. We hypothesized that the absolute blood pressure would be a better predictor of the severity of symptoms of chronic occlusive disease than the ABI. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: retrospective comparative study. SETTING: university inpatient/outpatient vascular laboratory. PATIENTS: 1396 evaluable patients out of 2436 total consecutive patients referred with suspected lower extremity arterial occlusive disease. MEASURES: comparison of absolute ankle and digital pressures and ABI according to severity of symptoms of chronic lower extremity ischemia using three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), likelihood ratios, and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: The symptoms of tissue ulcer/gangrene, rest pain, and gangrene were characterized by differences in absolute pressures in the great toe (47 +/- 42 mmHg vs 55 +/- 40 mmHg vs 62 +/- 33 mmHg [mean +/- SD], F = 19.05, p < 0.001) and ankle (92 +/- 53 mmHg vs 98 +/- 44 mmHg vs 106 +/- 37 mmHg, F = 12.91, p < 0.001), but not by the ABI (0.71 +/- 0.33 vs 0.68 +/- 0.34 vs 0.71 +/- 0.28, F = 1.24, p > 0.05). ROC curves confirmed absolute digital pressure (area under curve [AUC] = 0.628) and absolute ankle pressure (AUC = 0.607) to be superior to ABI (AUC = 0.572). CONCLUSIONS: The severity of symptoms for peripheral vascular disease correlate better with absolute pressure measurement than with ABI.

Aged↗

Biomechanics of the ankle joint. A perspective on total ankle replacement.

The biomechanics of the ankle present a unique set of challenges for arthroplasty surgery. Its biomechanics are not simple. Although the ankle joint may seem like a hinge, it is not in a line perpendicular to the tibia. The axis of rotation does not stay constant during range of motion, despite a relative congruency of this joint. Allowing for rotational forces must be accomplished, while maintaining the stability of the joint and its components. Success of the arthroplasty depends on how successful designs can dissipate these rotational forces, while maintaining the stability of the joint. It is not yet clear from the biomechanical analysis of the normal ankle joint that this dissipation of forces has been accomplished successfully in modern implants, although early results in the semiconstrained designs are encouraging. Careful assessment of long-term follow-up will determine how close the present designs are to mimicking the unique requirements of the arthritic foot and ankle. Further work on the biomechanics of these replacements would be beneficial.

Ankle Joint↗

The use of an ankle joint distractor in ankle arthroscopy.

Joint distraction, whether manual or mechanical, is a common practice in orthopedic surgery for knee and shoulder arthroscopy and can be extrapolated to include ankle joint arthroscopy. Manual joint distraction involves manipulation of the ankle joint by gravity or manual traction applied by an assistant. Mechanical distraction can be achieved by joint infiltration with solution or a joint distractor. Although the use of a joint distractor in arthroscopy of the ankle is not a new technique, podiatric literature has rarely reported on its use to allow for easier access and implementation of arthroscopic instruments. The ankle joint distractor allows the surgeon to take advantage of pathologic ligamentous laxity, thus increasing the joint space from an average 3.4 to 7.8 mm.

Adolescent↗

Stability of the ankle joint. Analysis of the function and traumatology of the ankle ligaments.

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the function of the ligamentous structures of the ankle joint, the traumas in which they may rupture, and the types of instability caused by such ruptures. Most previous experimental investigations on the function of ankle ligaments have been performed on osteoligamentous preparations either by forcing a movement in the joint into more or less well-defined directions and observing the resulting injuries or else by cutting ligaments in various combinations and describing the resulting instability. As a rule, this has been done without inducing the increased mobility by a defined torque and without being able to demonstrate the instability continuously in all degrees of dorsi- or plantar flexion. On the basis of these previous studies, the anterior talofibular ligament appears to limit internal rotation, while its role in adduction of the talus has not been clarified. The calcaneofibular ligament per se does not seem to be a factor in adduction. True, there is not complete agreement in this respect, and a few authors have been able to rupture this ligament in isolation by forced adduction. The posterior talofibular ligament seems to restrict dorsiflexion, and perhaps it plays a role, in conjunction with the calcaneofibular ligament, in adduction when the ankle joint is in dorsiflexion. The anterior tibiofibular ligament, and the distal tibiofibular structures on the whole, are assumed to limit external rotation, but it has not been clarified whether they influence adduction and abduction in the ankle joint. Little has been reported about the individual structures which make up the deltoid ligament, as most authors have not distinguished them from each other. However, in combination with the anterior talofibular ligament, the tibiotalar ligament seems to limit the translatory forward gliding of the talus - the so-called anterior drawer sign - and together they presumably inhibit plantar flexion. It has not been possible to find any description of the function of the intermediate tibiotalar ligament, while the posterior tibiotalar ligament has been reported by one author to inhibit internal rotation. Judging by the literature, the function of the tibiocalcaneal ligament seems comprehensive, since it is reported to limit external rotation, dorsiflexion, as well as plantar flexion. The present investigations were divided into three phases: Phase 1 was concerned with elucidating the correlation of injuries to the lateral collateral ligaments to internal rotatory instability, talar tilt, and the anterior drawer sign.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Ankle Joint↗

Early ankle mobilization, Part II: A one-year follow-up of acute, lateral ankle sprains (a randomized clinical trial).

A 1-year follow-up of military members who received either early ankle mobilization or cast immobilization following a moderate or severe lateral ankle sprain was conducted to determine the long-term effects between these two forms of conservative treatment. Functional job- and sports-related disabilities together with subjective complaints were assessed. A significantly large proportion (44%) of all subjects were symptomatic at follow-up. Those receiving early ankle mobilization had slightly more residual subjective complaints compared with those receiving cast immobilization. There was, however, little effect on functional job- or sports-related disability, the early mobilization group having slightly fewer functional problems. There was no difference in subjective complaints or functional limitations by the degree of injury for moderate or severe lateral ankle sprains.

Adult↗

Star excursion balance training: effects on ankle functional stability after ankle sprain.

OBJECTIVES: To study the effects of Star Excursion Balance training on functional stability of athletes with ankle sprain. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thirty-two male athletes with grade 2 ankle sprain, aged 15-22 years old were enrolled. They were random sampling into training group (n=15) and control group (n=17). All received conventional physical therapy program for 4 weeks. The training group also underwent the Star Excursion Balance training 3 days per week for 4 weeks. Single leg stance time (SLST) was assessed at pre- and post-training. Re-injuries were recorded during 3 months follow-up. RESULTS: After the program, subjects from both groups demonstrated significant improvement in SLST The training group gained SLST of the injured sides 2 times more than the control group (p = 0.002 tested with eyes closed, p = 0. 007 tested with eyes open), and also improved the SLST during eyes closed of the normal sides (p = 0.015). Re-injuries were found in 1/15 of the training group and 2/17 of the control group. CONCLUSION: Star Excursion Balance training is more effective than the conventional therapy program in improving functional stability of the sprained ankle.

Adolescent↗

Rapid ankle extension during paw shakes: selective recruitment of fast ankle extensors.

1. Electromyographic (EMG) signals from slow (soleus) and fast (lateral gastrocnemius) ankle extensors of six cats were recorded during rapid and alternate flexion-extension of the hindlimb elicited by placing the paw in water or by sticking tape to the plantar pads. High-speed 16-mm film, taken at 100 or 200 frames/s, was analyzed to determine the knee and ankle joint kinematics. 2. During 77 typical records, which averaged eight paw shakes each, a single extension-flexion cycle measured by the paw shake interval (PSI) of the electromyogram record, averaged 88 ms and ranged from 55 to 110 ms. LG EMG bursts of 10 ms in duration were synchronized with the peak displacement of ankle flexion. The SOL was inactive throughout these typical records. 3. During four atypical records from one cat, the average OSI was 141 ms, and both lateral gastrocnemius (LG and soleus (SOL) were active simultaneously. At a range of 6--8 cycles/s, these slower shakes are comparable to rhythmic actions of scratching )12) and locomotion (27); cyclic movements that typically include the recruitment of soleus. 4. It is suggested that paw shaking is an automatic movement triggered primarily by large, low-threshold afferents innervating the central plantar pads, which may selectively recruit the fast extensors while inhibiting the slow extensor. This is the only movement of the hindlimb recorded to date in our laboratory in which the tlg was active without the SOL. This unique dissociation of recruitment of slow and fast ankle extensors may be dictated by the time constraints imposed by the rapid cyclic movements of paw shaking.

Animals↗

[Ankle arthrodesis after failure of a total ankle prosthesis. Eight cases].

UNLABELLED: We report outcome in eight cases of ankle arthrodesis after failure of a total ankle prosthesis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This series included eight patients, mean age 57 years (range 36-76) who had initially: post-traumatic talocrural joint degeneration (n=4), rheumatoid polyarthritis (n=3), idiopathic talocrural degeneration (n=1). Three patients had a New Jersey (DePuy) cemented prosthesis, four had a Star (Link) uncemented prosthesis and one, whose implantation was performed in another institution, had a spherical cemented prosthesis. The preoperative Kitaoka score was 19.1 (0-32). Seven patients had subtalar joint degeneration; one patient had a subtalar arthrodesis. The tibial component was cemented alone in two patients, the talar piece in three (two with talar fracture). Failure resulted from loosening, talus fracture or deep infection. Bipolar loosening was observed in two patients. Time to revision was 36 months (range 4-108). Arthrodesis was associated with an iliac graft for seven patients: several tricortical grafts (vertical alignment of the corticals) and cancelous grafts for filling. The height of the graft was adjusted to the substance loss. A bone graft could not be used in one patient who had a deep infection. The arthrodesis was fixed with an anterior plate bridging the talocrural space in six patients, with an external fixator in infected patient, with a conventional centromedullary tibial nail transfixing the talocrural joint and planted in the talus and the calcaneus in one. Outcome was assessed with the Kitaoka score. Mean follow-up was 56 Months (range 10-114). RESULTS: The overall Kitaoka score improved to 54/100 (range 42-70) at last follow-up. The arthrodesis provided improvement in all patients although the final outcome was still considered poor in three patients. Radiographic healing was obtained in seven patients at a mean 3.1 months (range 2.5-6). Wound healing was slow in two patients. One patient developed a deep infection early. DISCUSSION: The rate of fusion was 87%. This is in the general range reported in the literature; use of an iliac graft allows preserving joint height but because of the poor bone quality often encountered, residual bone stock may be insufficient to achieve complete fixation with screwing. Plate fixation appears to be a better way of achieving fixation. This provides a rate of fusion comparable with earlier series where external fixation was generally employed. For us, external fixation should be reserved for infected cases. Use of a conventional anterograde nail can be another solution in the event of poor bone quality. The overall result remains relatively modest although all the patients achieved a functional gain with arthrodesis. The results obtained are less satisfactory than after first-intention ankle arthrodesis.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Reconstruction of the lateral ankle ligaments with bone-patellar tendon graft in patients with chronic ankle instability: a preliminary report.

BACKGROUND: Unsatisfactory long-term results have been reported after use of a Broström repair for patients with chronic ankle ligament insufficiency. HYPOTHESIS: Repair or reconstruction of both the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments is essential for normal kinematics of the ankle-hindfoot. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. METHODS: Thirteen patients with chronic instability of the ankle were found at operation to have injuries of both the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments, with a lack of healthy ligament margins suitable for suturing. Reconstruction of the ligaments was performed with bone-patellar tendon graft. The score devised by Good et al. was used to assess the patients' clinical condition before the operation and at final follow-up. RESULTS: Before the operation, six patients had a grade 3 clinical condition and seven had a grade 4 condition. At a mean follow-up of 26.5 months, all patients had a grade 1 condition. The average talar tilt of the patients was improved from 18.4 degrees +/- 5.5 degrees to 4.9 degrees +/- 2.6 degrees, and the average anterior drawer sign was improved from 9.1 +/- 2.6 mm to 5.8 +/- 1.6 mm. CONCLUSION: In cases of combined injuries, short-term results of reconstruction of the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments using bone-split patellar tendon graft were good, with a low frequency of complications.

Adult↗

Manipulation of the ankle as a method of treatment for ankle and foot pain.

This article presents a series of case reports to describe the technique of ankle joint manipulation and its effects on common problems of the foot and ankle. The relationship between motion and pain is described, as are the effects of muscular inhibition on the presence of joint restriction and their association with pain in various joints remote to the ankle joint.

Adult↗