Arthroscopy with lateral ankle ligament stabilization: benefit versus cost comparison

Authors

  • Matt Heenan University of Kansas School of Medicine-Kansas City, Kansas City, KS, USA
  • Kisan Parikh University of Kansas School of Medicine-Kansas City, Kansas City, KS, USA
  • Armin Tarakemeh University of Kansas School of Medicine-Kansas City, Kansas City, KS, USA
  • Erik Mersereau University of Kansas School of Medicine-Kansas City, Kansas City, KS, USA https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4278-8275
  • Rachel Long University of Kansas School of Medicine-Kansas City, Kansas City, KS, USA https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4925-8351
  • Tucker Morey University of Kansas School of Medicine-Kansas City, Kansas City, KS, USA
  • Sterre van den Anker University of Kansas School of Medicine-Kansas City, Kansas City, KS, USA https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8377-1050
  • Paul Schroeppel University of Kansas School of Medicine-Kansas City, Kansas City, KS, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0040-502X
  • Scott Mullen University of Kansas School of Medicine-Kansas City, Kansas City, KS, USA
  • Bryan Vopat University of Kansas School of Medicine-Kansas City, Kansas City, KS, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30795/jfootankle.2024.v18.1850

Keywords:

Lateral Ligament, Ankle; Arthroscopy; Ankle injuries; Cost-benefit analysis.

Abstract

Objective: Compare the differences in cost, complications, new intra-articular diagnoses, and reoperations among patients with ankle instability submitted to lateral ankle ligament repair/reconstruction with or without arthroscopic procedures. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 2,428 patients from the PearlDiver Humana dataset with ankle sprain or instability codes and compared outcomes between those submitted to lateral ankle ligament repair/reconstruction with or without arthroscopy. Results: Patients without arthroscopy had higher complication rates (9.87% vs. 5.41%; χ2[1, n = 1,236] = 5.83, p = 0.01), while the difference in reconstruction groups was insignificant (p = 0.09). Arthroscopy groups had higher rates of newly diagnosed intra-articular pathology: repair with arthroscopy (57.0%) vs. without (35.6%; χ2[1, n = 1,236] = 44.47, p < 0.001); reconstruction with arthroscopy (63.0%) vs. without (39.8%; χ2[1, n = 1,211] = 61.90, p < 0.001). Reoperation rates for intra-articular pathology were higher in the arthroscopy group (6.89% vs. 4.18%; χ2[1, n = 2,433] = 8.09, p = 0.006), with significantly shorter time to reoperation (303 vs. 474 days, p = 0.045). Conclusions: Arthroscopy does not increase complication rates and allows for earlier diagnosis and treatment of intra-articular pathology, potentially leading to earlier reoperation. Level of evidence III; Retrospective Comparative Study.

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Published

2024-12-20

How to Cite

Heenan, M., Parikh, K., Tarakemeh, A., Mersereau, E., Long, R., Morey, T., … Vopat, B. (2024). Arthroscopy with lateral ankle ligament stabilization: benefit versus cost comparison. Journal of the Foot & Ankle, 18(3), 389–93. https://doi.org/10.30795/jfootankle.2024.v18.1850