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Int J Sports Med 2015; 36(12): 1027-1032
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1550046
Orthopedics & Biomechanics
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Effect of Lateral Ankle Ligament Repair in Muscle Reaction Time in Patients with Mechanical Ankle Instability

H.-Y. Li
1   Department of Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Surgery, Sports Medicine Center of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai, China
,
J.-J. Zheng
2   Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China
,
J. Zhang
1   Department of Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Surgery, Sports Medicine Center of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai, China
,
Y.-H. Hua
3   Department of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine Center of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai, China
,
S.-Y. Chen
1   Department of Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Surgery, Sports Medicine Center of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai, China
› Author Affiliations
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accepted after revision 20 April 2015

Publication Date:
24 July 2015 (online)

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Abstract

Studies have shown that functional ankle instability can result in prolonged muscle reaction time. However, the deficit in muscle reaction time in patients with mechanical ankle instability (MAI) and the effect of lateral ankle ligament repair on muscle reaction time are unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify the deficit in muscle reaction time, and to evaluate the role of lateral ligament repair in improving muscle reaction time in MAI patients. Sixteen MAI patients diagnosed with lateral ankle ligament tears by ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging underwent arthroscopic debridement and open lateral ankle ligament repair with a modified Broström procedure. One day before the operation, reaction times of the tibialis anterior and peroneus longus muscles were recorded following sudden inversion perturbation while walking on a custom walkway, and anterior drawer test (ADT) and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scale score were evaluated. Six months postoperatively, muscle reaction time, ADT and AOFAS scale score were reevaluated, and muscle reaction times in 15 healthy controls were also recorded. Preoperatively, the affected ankles in the MAI group had significantly delayed tibialis anterior and peroneus longus muscles reaction times compared with controls. Six months after the operation, median AOFAS scale scores were significantly greater than preoperatively, and ADT was negative in the MAI group. However, the affected ankles in the MAI group showed no difference in muscle reaction time compared with preoperative values. MAI patients had prolonged muscle reaction time. The modified Broström procedure produced satisfactory clinical outcomes in MAI patients, but did not shorten reaction times of the tibialis anterior and peroneus longus muscles.

Key words

ankle instability - muscle reaction time - mechanical - ligament repair
 

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