Anterolateral Ankle Impingement

Duke’s Lesion

Edited by Michael Shereff, MD

 

Summary

The hallmark of anterolateral impingement syndrome of the ankle is pain located in the front of the ankle, at its outermost aspect. This pain can often be made worse when a patient bends over their foot moving forward. This condition is most commonly the result of soft tissue scar buildup in this location after prior injury to the ankle (sprain, fracture), or from an inflammatory process affecting the ankle. The redundant tissue effectively gets pinched or “sandwiched” between the bones as the available space decreases during certain movements (dorsiflexion). The pain is usually quite localized, and pressing on this area while moving the ankle joint will usually reproduce symptoms. Anterolateral ankle impingement is best diagnosed based on a good clinical exam, as well as history taken from an experienced clinician. The pillars of non-operative treatment typically include avoiding aggravating activities, icing, and/or bracing the ankle. Patients that do not respond to such measures often become candidates for arthroscopic surgery, which is a procedure to clean out the scar tissue in this region of the ankle.

Clinical Presentation

Pain at the front and outside aspect of the ankle joint (“anterolateral” region) is the main feature of anterolateral ankle impingement. This pain is often precipitated when the leg is bent forward over the ankle (dorsiflexed). There may be a history of a twisting ankle injury in the past. The location of the pain is quite discrete, and can be associated with a fullness or swelling which is very specific to this area (Figure 1). Pressing on the outside (lateral) aspect of the ankle joint line and bringing the foot upwards (dorsiflexing) will usually recreate the symptoms. In some cases, there can be some associated looseness in the ankle joint (ankle instability) which must also be addressed.

What is the Cause? (Etiology and Pathology)

Symptoms from anterolateral ankle impingement occur when there is a build-up of scar tissue in the outer (lateral) aspect of the ankle joint. When the foot is brought upwards, the lower bone of the ankle joint (the talus) jams or “pinches” this tissue buildup between it and the upper bones of the ankle (the fibula and tibia). This can be quite painful. When this occurs, it is classically the result of a prior ankle sprain, whereby patients tear one or several ligaments along the outer aspect of their ankle after inverting or twisting their foot, and these then (in the process of trying to heal) form a large “mass of inflammatory tissue, which should normally not be present.

Although several laterally located ligaments in the ankle can be responsible for anterolateral impingement syndrome, the ligament most commonly associated with this problem is called the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (one of the ligaments that holds the two bones of the lower leg together at the level of the ankle) (Figure 2). Tearing of the lower bands of this ligament can produce a prominent soft-tissue mass, synovitis, or generalized inflammation in this region, leading to eventual impingement. The anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament is the main ligament that is injured in a “high ankle sprain.” Therefore, anterolateral ankle impingement is one possible consequence of a high ankle sprain.

Figure 1:  Anterolateral Impingement: Typical Location of Pain

Figure 2:  Scarred Anterior Inferior Tibiofibular Ligament

Imaging Studies

In general, anterolateral ankle impingement (or ALIS, as it is sometimes called) will not be identified on plain x-rays, and may also be missed on an MRI. When anterolateral ankle impingement is observed on an MRI, it is usually seen on the axial view (Figure 3). Typically, this diagnosis is made based on the patient’s history and the localized tenderness on physical examination. The diagnosis is sometimes confirmed by a diagnostic corticosteroid injection, which can also often be therapeutic. If the symptoms persist, the diagnosis can be confirmed during arthroscopic surgery where the actual jamming (impingement) can be observed (and treated).

Figure 3:  MRI View of Impinging Ligament

Treatment

Non-Operative Treatment

True anterolateral ankle impingement is the result of a physical impediment inside the ankle joint that affects the functioning of the joint. Fortunately, non-operative management is often quite effective in treating this problem. Various treatment options which may be helpful include:

• Use of a shoe with a slight heel: By using a slightly increased heel, there is less chance that the foot will be forced upward enough to cause the jamming at the joint.
• Activity Modification: Sometimes the most effective treatment is to simply avoid the activities that precipitate symptoms. It is not uncommon for patients with anterolateral ankle impingement to have only certain specific activities (i.e. crouching down) that aggravate symptoms, and if these can be avoided then it may be possible to effectively manage this condition non-operatively.
• Using an Ankle Brace or Taping the Ankles: Limiting ankle motion, either by using an ankle brace (ankle lacer) or by taping the ankle, will tend to limit ankle motion and may prevent the ankle joint from jamming.
• Anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) may decrease the inflammation within the joint and allow the process to subside.
• Injecting the Ankle Joint: An injection of corticosteroids into the ankle joint can sometimes help symptoms significantly. If the repetitive jamming has caused the ankle joint lining (synovium) to be inflamed, then a corticosteroid injection may allow this inflamed tissue to settle with resulting improvement in symptoms.

Operative Treatment

Surgery for true anterolateral ankle impingement ankle joint can be very effective, but should only be considered after attempts at non-operative intervention have failed. When surgery is required to improve this problem, arthroscopy has traditionally been the treatment of choice for the surgeon. Arthroscopic surgery utilizes a tube-like camera and fine custom designed instruments to enter the ankle joint through small “key” holes (Figure 4). The scarring that causes anterolateral ankle impingement can also be removed by larger incisions using a more formal open approach to the ankle, but such additional surgery is generally only favorable if other interventions that cannot be done arthroscopically are required for the ankle at the same time.

Arthroscopic Cleaning-out of Anterolateral Ankle Impingement

Placing an arthroscope inside the ankle joint allows the surgeon to inspect the entire ankle joint, which is a tremendous advantage in the event that there are other problems elsewhere in the ankle. It also permits direct visualization of the impinging soft-tissue scar when the foot is flexed up (dorsiflexed). Sometimes, the repetitive jamming will have caused some of the cartilage on the outside of the talus (lower bone of the ankle) to be worn away. Sometimes, other ankle problems such as a talar osteochondral lesion or ankle instability will also be found present and will need to be addressed surgically at the same time.

Figure 4:  Arthroscopic View of Scarred Ligament

Recovery

Surgery for ALIS generally works quite well and can provide a reasonable return to function with good pain relief. If surgery involves only cleaning up the scar tissue along the outer aspect of the ankle, then the recovery is often fairly quick. There is usually a 6-8 week period of increased ankle pain and swelling, during which time the patient may have a limping gait. Full recovery can, however, take 3-6 months or longer.

When there are other things going on inside or around the ankle joint (ex. Talar OCL, ankle arthritis, peroneal tendonitis, ankle instability, etc.) that necessitate correction at the same time, recovery could take much longer, even though the outcome can still be very promising for many patients. The implications and severity of these additional findings can obviously affect long-term outcome, however, and so they should always be discussed with your doctor both before and after any surgical intervention.

Potential Surgical Complications

General Complications

This type of arthroscopic surgery typically has a very low complication rate, and the procedure is typically performed as an outpatient (not overnight) procedure. However, as with all orthopedic surgery, risks include:

• Infection
• Wound healing problems
• Blood Clots or Pulmonary Embolism
• Nerve irritation or injury (An indirect injury to the superficial peroneal nerve, leading to neuritis or neuroma)
• Traction injury (tendonitis or skin irritation/abrasion from the distraction used to get a good look inside the joint space)
• Persistent symptoms.

 

Edited on January 10, 2017

Originally edited by Paul Juliano, MD

mf/ 7.3.18