Exploring influences and risk of bias of studies on return to sport and work after lateral ankle sprain:A systematic review and metaanalysis

BACKGROUND Lateral ankle sprains are the most common traumatic musculoskeletal injuries of the lower extremity,with an incidence rate of 15%-20%.The high incidence and prevalence highlights the economic impact of this injury.Ankle sprains lead to a high socioeconomic burden due to the combination of the high injury incidence and high medical expenses.Up to 40%of patients who suffer from an ankle sprain develop chronic ankle instability.Chronic instability can lead to prolonged periods of pain,immobility and injury recurrence.Identification of factors that influence return to work(RTW)and return to sports(RTS)after a lateral ankle sprain(LAS)may help seriously reduce healthcare costs.AIM To explore which factors may potentially affect RTW and RTS after sustaining an LAS.METHODS EMBASE and PubMed were systematically searched for relevant studies published until June 2023.Inclusion criteria were as follows:(1)Injury including LAS or chronic ankle instability;(2)Described any form of treatment;(3)Assessment of RTW or RTS;(4)Studies published in English;and(5)Study designs including randomized controlled clinical trials,clinical trials or cohort studies.Exclusion criteria were:(1)Studies involving children(age<16 year);or(2)Patients with concomitant ankle injury besides lateral ankle ligament damage.A quality assessment was performed for each of the included studies using established risk of bias tools.Additionally quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADEpro tool in cases where outcomes were included in the quantitative analysis.A best evidence synthesis was performed in cases of qualitative outcome analysis.For all studied outcomes suitable for quantitative analysis a forest plot was created to calculate the effect on RTW and RTS.RESULTS A total of 8904 patients were included in 21 studies,10 randomized controlled trials,7 retrospective cohort studies and 4 prospective cohort studies.Fifteen studies were eligible for meta-analysis.The overall RTS rate ranged were 80%and 83%in the all treatments pool and surgical treatments pool,respectively.The pooled mean days to RTS ranged from 23-93 d.The overall RTW rate was 89%.The pooled mean time to RTW ranged from 5.8-8.1 d.For patients with chronic ankle instability,higher preoperative motivation was the sole factor significantly and independently(P=0.001)associated with the rate of and time to RTS following ligament repair or reconstruction.Higher body mass index was identified as a significant factor(P=0.04)linked to not resuming sports or returning at a lower level(median 24,range 20-37),compared to those who resumed at the same or higher level(median 23,range 17-38).Patients with a history of psychological illness or brain injury,experienced a delay in their rehabilitation process for sprains with fractures and unspecified sprains.The extent of the delayed rehabilitation was directly proportional to the increased likelihood of experiencing a recurrence of the ankle sprain and the number of ankle-related medical visits.We also observed that 10%of athletes who did return to sport after lateral ankle sprain without fractures described non-ankle-related reasons for not returning.CONCLUSION All treatments yielded comparable results,with each treatment potentially offering unique advantages or benefits.Preoperative motivation may influence rehabilitation after LAS.Grading which factor had a greater impact was not possible due to the lack of comparability among the included patients.

Risk factors for chronic ankle instability after first episode of lateral ankle sprain:A retrospective analysis of 362 cases

Background:Chronic ankle instability(CAI) is a common sequela following an acute lateral ankle sprain(LAS).To treat an acture LAS more effectively and efficiently,it is important to identify patients at substantial risk for developing CAI.This study identifies magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) manifestations for predicting CAI development after a first episode of LAS and explores appropriate clinical indications for ordering MRI scans for these patients.Methods:All patients with a first-episode LAS who received plain radiograph and MRI scanning within the first 2 weeks after LAS from December 1,2017 to December 1,2019 were identified.Data were collected using the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool at final follow-up.Demographic and other related clinical variables,including age,sex,body mass index,and treatment were also recorded.Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed successively to identify risk factors for CAI after first-episode LAS.Results:A total 131 out of 362 patients with a mean follow-up of 3.0± 0.6 years(mean ± SD;2.0—4.1 years) developed CAI after first-episode LAS.According to multivariable regression,development of CAI after first-episode LAS was associated with 5 prognostic factors:age(odds ratio(OR)=0.96,95% confidence interval(95%CI):0.93-1.00,p=0.032);body mass index(OR=1.09,95%CI:1.02-1.17,p=0.009);posterior talofibular ligament injury(OR=2.17,95%CI:1.05-4.48,p=0.035);large bone marrow lesion of the talus(OR=2.69,95%CI:1.30-5.58,p=0.008),and Grade 2 effusion of the tibiotalar joint(OR=2.61,95%CI:1.39-4.89,p=0.003).When patients had at least 1 positive clinical finding in the 10-m walk test,anterior drawer test,or inversion tilt test,they had a 90.2% sensitivity and 77.4% specificity in terms of detecting at least 1 prognostic factor by MRI.Conclusion:MRI scanning is valuable in predicting CAI after first-episode LAS for those patients with at least 1 positive clinical finding in the10-m walk test,anterior drawer test,and inversion tilt test.Further prospective and large-scale studies are necessary for validation.

Acute ankle sprain in athletes:Clinical aspects and algorithmic approach

Acute ankle sprain is the most common lower limb injury in athletes and accounts for 16%-40%of all sports-related injuries.It is especially common in basketball,American football,and soccer.The majority of sprains affect the lateral ligaments,particularly the anterior talofibular ligament.Despite its high prevalence,a high proportion of patients experience persistent residual symptoms and injury recurrence.A detailed history and proper physical examination are diagnostic cornerstones.Imaging is not indicated for the majority of ankle sprain cases and should be requested according to the Ottawa ankle rules.Several interventions have been recommended in the management of acute ankle sprains including rest,ice,compression,and elevation,analgesic and anti-inflammatory medications,bracing and immobilization,early weight-bearing and walking aids,foot orthoses,manual therapy,exercise therapy,electrophysical modalities and surgery(only in selected refractory cases).Among these interventions,exercise and bracing have been recommended with a higher level of evidence and should be incorporated in the rehabilitation process.An exercise program should be comprehensive and progressive including the range of motion,stretching,strengthening,neuromuscular,proprioceptive,and sport-specific exercises.Decision-making regarding return to the sport in athletes may be challenging and a sports physician should determine this based on the self-reported variables,manual tests for stability,and functional performance testing.There are some common myths and mistakes in the management of ankle sprains,which all clinicians should be aware of and avoid.These include excessive imaging,unwarranted non-weightbearing,unjustified immobilization,delay in functional movements,and inadequate rehabilitation.The application of an evidence-based algorithmic approach considering the individual characteristics is helpful and should be recommended.

Most ankle sprain research is either false or clinically unimportant:A 30-year audit of randomized controlled trials

Background:Lateral ankle sprain is the most common musculoskeletal injury.Although clinical research in this field is growing,there is a broader concern that clinical trial outcomes are often false and fail to translate into patient benefits.Methods:We audited 30 years of experimental research related to lateral ankle sprain management(n=74 randomized controlled trials)to determine if reports of treatment effectiveness could be validated beyond statistical certainty.Results:A total of 77%of trials reported positive treatment effects,but there was a high risk of false discovery.Most trials were unregistered and relied solely on statistical significance,or lack of statistical significance,rather than on interpreting key measures of minimum clinical importance(e.g.,minimal detectable change,minimal clinically important difference).Conclusion:Future clinical trials must adopt higher standards of reporting and data interpretation.This includes consideration of the ethical responsibility to preregister their research and interpretation of clinical outcomes beyond statistical significance.

Patients’perspectives on the conventional synthetic cast vs a newly developed open cast for ankle sprains

BACKGROUND Orthopedic physicians typically apply a cast to immobilize a body part that has been injured.There have been no significant structural changes or advances in synthetic casts since the development of the modern cast.The Opencast®is a recently developed type of cast that allows ventilation and direct visual inspection of the skin to avoid cast-related complications.Although this novel cast appears to have more benefits than the conventional synthetic cast,its clinical efficacy and advantages have not been established.AIM To investigate the clinical efficacy and advantages of the newly developed Opencast®based on patients’perspectives in those with ankle inversion injury.METHODS A specifically designed questionnaire consisting of 19 items was used to compare patients’opinions and concerns of the Opencast®and the conventional synthetic cast.The items were focused on subjective patient satisfaction,discomfort,and adverse effects while wearing the cast.Patients with an ankle inversion injury diagnosed as a high-grade ankle sprain were enrolled.The subjects were randomized and instructed to fill the questionnaire after wearing a synthetic cast or an Opencast®for 2 wk.They were then required to fill the questionnaire again,after switching to the alternative type of cast for 2 more weeks.RESULTS A total of 22 subjects participated in the study.The synthetic cast appeared to be more rigid and stable than the Opencast®,but there was no significant difference in the amount of pain relief.The likelihood of adverse effects when wearing the synthetic cast was significantly higher.Patient satisfaction tended to be rated higher after wearing the Opencast®.Opencast®showed more subjective vulnerability than the synthetic cast,but there was no significant difference in the redo rate.Patients were more anxious about removal of the synthetic cast than of the Opencast®.CONCLUSION The results indicate that the Opencast®could replace the conventional synthetic cast as it offers increased patient satisfaction,which would in turn increase compliance to treatment.

Chronic Ankle Instability: Therapeutic Exercise and Data Analysis

Background and Objectives: Ankle injuries are the most common type of injury in healthy active individuals. If not treated properly, recurrent sprains can lead to a condition of chronic ankle instability (CAI). The present paper examines some subjects with a previous history of acute inversion ankle sprain who have developed a subsequent condition of instability, grouping them according to inclusion criteria and analyzing them through four field tests considered objective by the scientific literature: SEBT test, BEES test, TIBT test, SHT test. The data obtained were stored in order to compare them following a re-education protocol aimed at improving proprioception, balance, walking and strengthening the extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of the foot. per year. The subjects were then divided into two categories: subjects with CAI > 1 year and subjects with CAI ≤ 1 year. A protocol lasting 6 weeks was administered to both groups, trying to work on improving balance in single stance, improving static and dynamic stability, strengthening the gluteus medius and maximus (pelvis stabilizers) and strengthening of the intrinsic muscles of the foot. At the end of the protocol the subjects were all re-evaluated with the same field tests used previously and the data obtained were compared both with the pre-protocol data and with the data measured by the control subjects.

The relationship between pain and associated characteristics of chronic ankle instability:A retrospective study

Background'. Up to 74% of people with a history of ankle sprain develop chronic ankle instability (CAI). One commonly reported residualimpairment is ankle pain;however, it has not been included in models or inclusion criteria for CAL We investigated the prevalence of pain inpeople with CAI and the association between presence of pain and other CAI characteristics.Methods'. Retrospective data from 1147 participants with CAI (age 26.6 ± 10.7 years, 59% female) were collated from previous studies that usedthe Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool as an assessment tool. Pain was assessed from Item 1 of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool, whichasks participants about ankle pain. Responses were divided into 3 categories: pain during daily activities, pain during moderate/vigorous physicalactivities, and no pain. The presence of pain was analyzed with descriptive statistics, the correlation between pain category and CAI characteris・tics was analyzed by /2 tests and factors associated with each pain category were analyzed by logistic regression.Results'. Among the participants, 60.1% (n = 689) reported ankle pain. Of all participants, 12.4% (n = 142) reported pain during daily activities,47.7% (n = 547) reported pain during moderate/vigorous physical activities, and 39.9% (n = 458) reported no pain. There was a strong associationbetween ankle instability and ankle pain (/2 = 122.2, p < 0.001, OR = 53& 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.84—7.53). Perceived ankle instability,age and unilateral ankle sprains were independently associated with pain (ankle instability: /2 = 43.29, p < 0.001;age: /2 = 30.37,p < 0.001;unilateral ankle sprains: /2 = 6.25, p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the presence of pain between genders.Conclusion-. The prevalence of pain in people with CAI was high and was related to perceived ankle instability. Number of sprains, age, genderand unilateral or bilateral sprain did not modify this result except for the first pain category (pain during daily activities). There is large gap incurrent knowledge about the impact of pain in people with CAI, and this topic needs further investigation.

Corticospinal activity during a single-leg stance in people with chronic ankle instability

Purpose:The aim of the study was to determine whether corticospinal excitability and inhibition of the tibialis anterior during single-leg standing differs among individuals with chronic ankle instability(CAI),lateral ankle sprain copers,and healthy controls.Methods:Twenty-three participants with CAI,23 lateral ankle sprain copers,and 24 healthy control participants volunteered.Active motor threshold(AMT),normalized motor-evoked potential(MEP),and cortical silent period(CSP)were evaluated by transcranial magnetic stimulation while participants performed a single-leg standing task.Results:Participants with CAI had significantly longer CSP at 100%of AMT and lower normalized MEP at 120%of AMT compared to lateral ankle sprain copers(CSP100%:p=0.003;MEP120%:p=0.044)and controls(CSP100%:p=0.041;MEP120%:p=0.006).Conclusion:This investigation demonstrate altered corticospinal excitability and inhibition of the tibialis anterior during single-leg standing in participants with CAI.Further research is needed to examine the effects of corticospinal maladaptations to motor control of the tibial anterior on postural control performance in those with CAI.

Ankle injuries in athletes:A review of the literature

Ankle injuries are commonplace in the athletic population, with lateral ligamentsprains accounting for the majority of them. The medial ligament complex, thedistal tibiofibular syndesmosis as well as any of the bones that constitute the anklejoint can also be injured. Typical mechanisms of injury include inversion-plantarflexionand external rotation on a supinated, dorsiflexed or pronated foot. Lesionsof the ankle present with similar symptoms of pain, swelling and tenderness.Therefore, a thorough history and physical examination must be obtained to makethe correct diagnosis. This is especially critical for athletes as certain injuries canlead to termination of their career if not treated accurately on time. Imaging maybe useful in some cases to confirm or rule out differential diagnoses. Most injuriescan be managed conservatively using the Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression andElevation protocol followed by a comprehensive rehabilitation programme.Surgery is reserved for grade III ligament tears that are refractory to initial nonoperativetreatment and displaced fractures that are unlikely to unite withoutsurgical intervention. The objective of this review is to discuss the common ankleinjuries encountered in the athletic population and the approaches to theirdiagnosis and management.

Ankle and foot mechanics in individuals with chronic ankle instability during shod walking and barefoot walking:A cross-sectional study

Purpose:This study evaluated the angular kinematic and moment of the ankle and foot during shod walking and barefoot walking in individuals with unilateral chronic ankle instability(CAI).Methods:Recreational soccer players with unilateral CAI were recruited for this cross sectional study conducted between January and August 2019.A total of 40 participants were screened for eligibility but only 31 met the inclusion criteria based on the methods of Delahunt et al and Gribble et al.Except for 3 participants not attending the evaluation session,28 participants were finally included.A three dimensional motion analysis system made up of ProReflex motion capture unit and an AMTIb Kistler force plate,embedded in the middle of nine meter walkway,were used to assess the ankle and foot angles and moment during shod walking and barefoot walking conditions.A Statistical Package for Social Sciences(version 20.0)was used to analyze data.Results:During shod walking,the ankle joint plantar-flexion range of motion(ROM)at 10%of the gait cycle(GC)and dorsiflexion ROM at 30%of the GC were significantly higher than those during barefoot walking for both feet(p=0.001,0.001,0.027,and 0.036 respectively).The inversion ROM during shod walking was significantly higher than that during barefoot walking for both feet at 10%and 30%of the GC(p=0.001.0.001,0.001,and 0.042 respectively).At 10%of the GC,the eversion moment was significantly higher between barefoot and shod walking for both feet(both p=0.001).At 30%of the GC,there was no significant difference between shod and barefoot walking plantar-flexion moment of both feet(p=0.975 and 0.763 respectively),and the eversion moment of both feet(p=0.116 and 0.101 respectively).Conclusion:At the early stance,shod walking increases the ankle plantar-flexion and foot inversion ROM,and decreases the eversion moment for both feet in subjects with unilateral CAI.Therefore,the foot wearing condition should be considered during evaluation of ankle and foot kinematics and kinetics.