Abstract: Objective  To investigate the effect of arthroscopic surgery on anterior ankle impingement syndrome.Method  Arthroscopic surgery was performed on 42 patients with anterior ankle impingement syndrome admitted to the People’s Hospital of Wuhan University from April 2016 to October 2021.The patients were followed up for 14 to 26 months.The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate pain, and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, AOFAS (Ankle and hind foot function scores) were used to evaluate the therapeutic effect and ankle joint function, and to compare the preoperative and postoperative changes.Results  The wounds of all patients were healed in stage Ⅰ without infection, nerve, blood vessel or tendon injury.The AOFAS score was (45.52±6.64) before surgery, (76.33±6.52), (92.86±3.48) and (94.95±3.68) at 1 month, 3 months and 14 months after surgery, respectively.The VAS score was (7.95±0.70) before surgery, (3.86±0.65), (1.83±0.79) and (1.24±0.96) at 1 month, 3 months and 14 months after surgery, respectively.AOFAS scores and VAS scores at 1 month, 3 months and 14 months after operation were significantly improved compared with those before operation, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05),there was significant improvement at 3 and 14 months after surgery compared with 1 month after surgery, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05),14 months after surgery was better than 3 months after surgery, but the difference was not statistically significant (P> 0.05).Conclusion  Arthroscopic surgery in the treatment of anterior ankle impingement syndrome, less trauma, quick recovery, good effect, can be effective in the treatment of ligamentous and osteochondral injury, mid-term follow-up effect is stable.

Key words: anterior impingement of ankle, arthroscopic, debridement of ankle, ankle function