Management of Posterior Ankle Impingement as a Result of Ankle Instability a Case Report

Abstract

Dancers may suffer from either anterolateral ankle instability secondary to recurrent inversion ankle sprains or posterior ankle impingement syndrome secondary to a large trigonal process or os trigonum. Ankle instability may cause posterior impingement syndrome by allowing the forward shift of the talus in the mortise during plantar flexion. Identifying the interrelationship between instability and impingement is a key step in returning the patient to dance. We describe the results of a dancer who presented with both anterolateral ankle instability and posterior ankle impingement, the surgical procedure used, and the comprehensive, dance-specific treatment protocol implemented to achieve a successful outcome.