Short-term efficacy of early rehabilitation protocol following arthroscopic suture-augmented lateral ankle ligament repair

LI Bao; MA Xinqi; FENG Jing; WANG Xiaohan; LIU Xinwei; YU Hailong

doi:10.16048/j.issn.2095-5561.2026.02.06

Abstract：Objective To investigate the short-term efficacy of the early rehabilitation protocol after enhanced suture repair surgery of ankle lateral collateral ligament under arthroscopy.Methods A total of 75 patients with lateral ankle ligament injuries who underwent arthroscopic suture-augmented lateral ankle ligament repair at the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command from January 2022 to December 2022 were enrolled in this study.The cohort included 70 males and 5 females,with a mean age of 26.9±6.0 years.Based on postoperative rehabilitation protocols,patients were divided into conventional rehabilitation group(n=39)and early rehabilitation group(n=36).Patients in the conventional rehabilitation group initiated standard exercises including ankle pump training,straight leg raises,and quadriceps isometric contractions immediately after drain removal.The early rehabilitation group received additional interventions,rehabilitation specialists conducted joint assessments and implemented guided rehabilitation(including traditional Chinese medicine directional drug penetration therapy and joint mobilization techniques)continuing through the first postoperative week.After the first postoperative week,both groups underwent further rehabilitation at the rehabilitation department.Outcome measures included visual analog scale(VAS)for pain,limb symmetry index(LSI),American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS)score,and Berg balance scale at one and three months postoperatively,along with adverse event monitoring.Results The patients in this study were followed up for three to seven months,with a follow-up time of(5.1±1.1)months.During the follow-up period,no adverse reactions such as infection,lower limb thrombosis,or nail detachment occurred.There were no statistically significant differences in VAS scores,LSI,AOFAS scores and Berg balance scale scores between the two groups before and at three months after the surgery(P＞0.05).The VAS score,LSI and AOFAS score of the early rehabilitation group were better than those of the conventional rehabilitation group at one month after the surgery,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion The application of early rehabilitation protocol after enhanced suture repair surgery of ankle lateral collateral ligament under arthroscopy can reduce the early pain of patients,and is beneficial to the early rehabilitation exercise of ankle joint function.