Wojtowicz BG, Domzalski M, Lesman J. Needle arthroscopic-assisted repair of tibio-fibular syndesmosis acute injury: A case report. World J Orthop 2024; 15(8): 820-827 [DOI: 10.5312/wjo.v15.i8.820]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Blazej G Wojtowicz, MD, Doctor, Department of Orthopedy and Trauma, Medical University of Lodz, Zeromskiego 113, Lodz 90-549, Lodz, Poland. wojtblaz@gmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Orthopedics
Article-Type of This Article
Case Report
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Orthop. Aug 18, 2024; 15(8): 820-827 Published online Aug 18, 2024. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v15.i8.820
Needle arthroscopic-assisted repair of tibio-fibular syndesmosis acute injury: A case report
Blazej G Wojtowicz, Marcin Domzalski, Jedrzej Lesman
Blazej G Wojtowicz, Marcin Domzalski, Jedrzej Lesman, Department of Orthopedy and Trauma, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz 90-549, Lodz, Poland
Author contributions: Wojtowicz BG, Domzalski M and Lesman J equally contributed to the design and implementation of the research, to the analysis of the results and to the writing of the manuscript; Wojtowicz BG, Domzalski M and Lesman J approved the final article.
Informed consent statement: Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Blazej G Wojtowicz, MD, Doctor, Department of Orthopedy and Trauma, Medical University of Lodz, Zeromskiego 113, Lodz 90-549, Lodz, Poland. wojtblaz@gmail.com
Received: June 22, 2024 Revised: July 19, 2024 Accepted: July 29, 2024 Published online: August 18, 2024 Processing time: 51 Days and 18.8 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Acute injuries to the tibiofibular syndesmosis, often associated with high ankle sprains or malleolar fractures, require precise diagnosis and treatment to prevent long-term complications. This case report explores the use of needle arthroscopy as a minimally invasive technique for the repair of tibiofibular syndesmosis injuries.
CASE SUMMARY
We report on a 40-year-old male patient who presented with a trimalleolar fracture and ankle subluxation following a high ankle sprain. Due to significant swelling and poor soft tissue quality, initial management involved external stabilization. Subsequently, needle arthroscopy was employed to assess and treat the tibiofibular syndesmosis injury. The procedure, performed under spinal anesthesia and fluoroscopic control, included nanoscopic evaluation of the ankle joint and reduction of the syndesmosis using a suture button. Follow-up assessments showed significant improvement in pain levels, range of motion, and functional scores. At 26 weeks post-procedure, the patient achieved full range of motion and pain-free status. Needle arthroscopy offers a promising alternative for the management of acute tibiofibular syndesmosis injuries, combining diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities with minimal invasiveness.
CONCLUSION
This technique may enhance clinical outcomes and reduce recovery times, warranting further investigation and integration into clinical practice.
Core Tip: Needle arthroscopy demonstrates significant potential as a minimally invasive technique for the repair of acute tibiofibular syndesmosis injuries, offering enhanced visualization and diagnostic accuracy over traditional methods. In a case study of a 40-year-old male with a trimalleolar fracture, this method resulted in substantial improvements in pain, range of motion, and functional outcomes, achieving full recovery within 26 weeks. These findings suggest that needle arthroscopy could become a preferred approach in managing such injuries, promoting faster recovery and reducing the risk of complications. Further research is warranted to confirm these benefits.
