Malalignment and Lateral Ankle Instability: Causes of Failure from the Varus Tibia to the Cavovarus Foot

Fabian Krause; Angela Seidel

doi:10.1016/j.fcl.2018.07.005

Malalignment and Lateral Ankle Instability: Causes of Failure from the Varus Tibia to the Cavovarus Foot

Foot Ankle Clin. 2018 Dec;23(4):593-603. doi: 10.1016/j.fcl.2018.07.005. Epub 2018 Sep 22.

Authors

Fabian Krause¹, Angela Seidel²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Inselspital, University of Berne, Freiburgstrasse, Berne 3010, Switzerland. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Inselspital, University of Berne, Freiburgstrasse, Berne 3010, Switzerland.

PMID: 30414655
DOI: 10.1016/j.fcl.2018.07.005

Abstract

A lower leg or hindfoot varus malalignment is a frequently encountered but underestimated cause of chronic ankle instability and ankle arthritis in the long term. When evaluating patients with ankle instability, a high index of clinical suspicion for tibia and hindfoot malalignment and subsequent biomechanics should be maintained. Management of lateral ankle instability in the presence of varus malalignment must comprise a generous indication for accurate hindfoot realignment. In young and active patients, realignment should be combined with formal lateral ligamentous repair.

Keywords: Cavovarus foot; Failure; Lateral ankle instability; Varus malalignment.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Ankle Joint*
Bone Malalignment / complications*
Chronic Disease
Humans
Joint Instability / etiology*
Joint Instability / surgery*
Risk Factors
Talipes Cavus / complications*
Tibia / abnormalities*
Treatment Failure