Abstract
Background. This case series evaluated the clinical and functional outcomes of patients with lateral ankle instability treated with a primary modified Brostrom-Evans. Methods. Nineteen patients who underwent the modified Brostrom-Evans procedure for lateral ankle instability with a minimum follow-up of 5 years were reviewed. Physical exams were performed and weight-bearing ankle radiographs taken at final follow-up. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), Foot Function Index (FFI), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores. Functional outcomes were assessed using a goniometer for ankle range of motion (ROM) and dynamometer for ankle strength compared to the non-operative extremity. Results. Average age at time of surgery was 34 ± 11 years (range 17-58 years) and average follow-up was 8.7 ± 2.8 years (range 5.1-15.4 years). At final follow-up, average total SF-36 and FFI scores were 83 ± 18 and 11% ± 18%, respectively. Average VAS at rest was 1 ± 1 and during activities 2 ± 2. There were no significant differences in ankle eversion ROM or strength between operative and non-operative extremities. Ankle eversion strength in operative extremities was 91 ± 12% of non-operative ankles. Ankle ROM was similar in all planes except for a 41% decrease in ankle inversion in surgically treated extremities compared to the contralateral side (p = .01). Conclusions. Patients treated with the modified Brostrom-Evans procedure for lateral ankle ligament reconstruction have minimal loss of peroneal strength, decreased inversion ROM, and no recurrent instability or progressive symptomatic subtalar arthritis requiring re-operation at long-term follow-up.
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