Work

Efficacy and safety of lateral ligaments augmentation and modified Brostrom repair in the treatment of chronic lateral instability of the ankle joint: a meta-analysis

Year: 2026

Type: review

Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) is a common condition caused by recurrent ankle sprains, leading to persistent pain and functional impairment. Surgical treatments, including the modified Broström repair and lateral ligament augmentation, aim to restore stability and function. This meta-analysis compares the outcomes of these two interventions, focusing on talar tilt angle (TTA), anterior talar translation (ATT), functional scores, and adverse event incidence. METHOS: In this meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, CQVIP, and CBM databases from their inception to Dec 2024. We included studies comparing lateral ligament augmentation with modified Broström repair in treating CLAI, excluding animal studies, reviews, and publications with incomplete data. Data were analyzed using Review Manager 5.3. RESULTS: Eight RCT studies with a total of 425 patients were included. The results showed that lateral ligament augmentation significantly improved both TTA and ATT compared to modified Broström repair, indicating better mechanical stability. Functional outcomes were also better in the augmentation group as measured by FAOS, though no significant differences were found in the FAAM scores. The incidence of adverse events was similar between the two interventions. CONCLUSION: Lateral ligament augmentation demonstrates superior mechanical stability and functional outcomes compared to the modified Broström repair in treating CLAI. However, both procedures show similar rates of adverse events, and further high-quality studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Source: Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research

DOI: 10.1186/s13018-025-06637-8

Authors: Kangming Ruan, Qingping Liu, Zhen Lin, Lingfang Liu, Dongfeng You, Dengbin Guo

Institution: Fujian Medical University

Language: English

Topic: Foot and Ankle Surgery

Subfield: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,090