Anterior and Posterior Ankle Impingement Syndromes: Arthroscopic and Endoscopic Anatomy and Approaches to Treatment

Abstract

Ankle impingement refers to a chronic painful mechanical limitation of ankle motion caused by soft tissue or osseous abnormality affecting the anterior or posterior tibiotalar joint. Impingement can be associated with a single traumatic event or repetitive microtrauma. These syndromes are a possible etiology of persistent ankle pain. An arthroscopic approach to this pathology, when indicated, is considered as ideal treatment with its high safety and low complication rate. We describe the clinical and potential imaging features, and the arthroscopic/endoscopic management strategies, for the 4 main impingement syndromes of the ankle: anterolateral, anterior, antero-medial, and posterior.

Keywords: Ankle pain; Anterolateral impingement; Arthroscopy; Endoscopy; Posterior impingement.