Comparison of the efficacy of the modified internal brace and the arthroscopic Broström-Gould procedure for chronic lateral ankle instability.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of an internal brace and the arthroscopic Broström-Gould procedure for chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI).

Methods: The clinical data of 71 patients who were diagnosed with chronic lateral ankle instability between May 2020 and May 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scale, Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were used to assess clinical outcomes.

Results: A total of 59 patients were followed up for a mean of 21 months (range, 16-24 months). Thirty-seven patients underwent the modified Broström-Gould (IB) procedure, and twenty-two patients underwent the arthroscopic Broström-Gould (ABG) procedure. The mean postoperative VAS score (P = 0.790), AOFAS score (P = 0.252), FAAM daily activity score (P = 0.983), and FAAM for sports activity score (P = 0.379) were not significantly different between the ABG and IB groups at the final follow-up. However, the FAAM sports score was better in the internal brace group than in the arthroscopy group at the 1-year postoperative follow-up (P = 0.025).

Conclusion: Patients treated with an internal brace recovered faster than those who underwent the arthroscopic ABG procedure. However, no other significant differences were observed between the two methods.

Level Of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.