OBJECTIVETo observe clinical effects of arthroscopy for posterior ankle impingement.

METHODSFrom January 2013 to December 2014, 34 patients with posterior ankle impingement were performed ankle arthroscopy with double passage, including 20 males and 14 females aged from 29 to 62 years old with average of 42.2 years old. VAS score were applied for evaluate joint pain before operation and 12 months after operation, AOFAS sore were used to assess ankle joint function.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up with 12 months, and incision were healed well, no complications occurred. Thirty-four patients were bony impingement and 19 patients were soft tissue impingement. Operation time ranged from 20 to 35 min with an average of(25.6±5.2)min. The posterior ankle impingement test of all patients was negative after operation. VAS score at 12 months after operation(1.2±1.3) was significantly higher than that of before operation(4.6±1.0). AOFAS score at 12 months after operation( 84.7±6.5) was also obvious higher than that of before operation (62.7±8.9).

CONCLUSIONSArthroscopy for posterior ankle impingement could relieve pain and improve function of ankle, shorten operative time, and it has a good clinical effect.