Spire Leeds Hospital, Leeds, UK.
Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Becket University, Leeds, UK.
Bone Joint J. 2022 Jan;104-B(1):68-75. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.104B1.BJJ-2021-0542.R2.
The ideal management of acute syndesmotic injuries in elite athletes is controversial. Among several treatment methods used to stabilize the syndesmosis and facilitate healing of the ligaments, the use of suture tape (InternalBrace) has previously been described. The purpose of this study was to analyze the functional outcome, including American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores, knee-to-wall measurements, and the time to return to play in days, of unstable syndesmotic injuries treated with the use of the InternalBrace in elite athletes.
Data on a consecutive group of elite athletes who underwent isolated reconstruction of the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament using the InternalBrace were collected prospectively. Our patient group consisted of 19 elite male athletes with a mean age of 24.5 years (17 to 52). Isolated injuries were seen in 12 patients while associated injuries were found in seven patients (fibular fracture, medial malleolus fracture, anterior talofibular ligament rupture, and posterior malleolus fracture). All patients had a minimum follow-up period of 17 months (mean 27 months (17 to 35)).
All patients returned to their pre-injury level of sports activities. One patient developed a delayed union of the medial malleolus. The mean return to play was 62 days (49 to 84) for isolated injuries, while the patients with concomitant injuries returned to play in a mean of 104 days (56 to 196). The AOFAS score returned to 100 postoperatively in all patients. Knee-to-wall measurements were the same as the contralateral side in 18 patients, while one patient lacked 2 cm compared to the contralateral side.
This study suggests the use of the InternalBrace in the management of unstable syndesmotic injuries offers an alternative method of stabilization, with good short-term results, including early return to sports in elite athletes. Cite this article: 2022;104-B(1):68-75.
在精英运动员中，急性下胫腓联合损伤的理想治疗方法仍存在争议。在用于稳定下胫腓联合和促进韧带愈合的几种治疗方法中，缝线带（InternalBrace）的使用以前已有描述。本研究的目的是分析使用 InternalBrace 治疗不稳定下胫腓联合损伤的功能结果，包括美国矫形足踝协会（AOFAS）评分、膝关节到墙壁的测量值以及重返运动的天数。
前瞻性收集连续的一组接受 InternalBrace 行下胫腓前联合韧带重建的精英运动员的数据。我们的患者组包括 19 名平均年龄为 24.5 岁（17 至 52 岁）的男性精英运动员。12 例为单纯损伤，7 例为合并损伤（腓骨骨折、内踝骨折、前距腓韧带断裂和后踝骨折）。所有患者的随访时间均至少为 17 个月（平均随访时间 27 个月（17 至 35 个月））。
所有患者均恢复到受伤前的运动水平。1 例患者发生内踝延迟愈合。单纯损伤患者的平均重返运动时间为 62 天（49 至 84 天），而合并损伤患者的重返运动时间平均为 104 天（56 至 196 天）。所有患者术后 AOFAS 评分均达到 100 分。18 例患者膝关节到墙壁的测量值与对侧相同，1 例患者比对侧少 2cm。
本研究表明，使用 InternalBrace 治疗不稳定的下胫腓联合损伤提供了一种稳定的替代方法，具有良好的短期结果，包括精英运动员的早期重返运动。
