Anterolateral ankle impingement

Abstract

Anterolateral ankle impingement is a condition in which chronically inflammatory hypertrophied soft tissues are trapped inside the joint between the anterior edge of the tibia and the neck of the talus in dorsal flexion of the foot. It represents one of the most common causes of residual chronic ankle pain after injury. It occurs as a complication of ankle sprains in 1 to 2% of cases. Injury to the ligaments and anterior articular capsule, as well as the surrounding adipose tissue, results in local inflammatory tissue reaction and, due to the recurrent microtrauma, leads to chronic synovitis with hyperplasia and soft tissue fibrosis. Diagnosis is based on medical history, clinical examination and x-ray, completed with ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. In most cases, anterolateral ankle impingement requires surgical treatment. Ankle arthroscopy is the gold standard in surgical treatment.