Sex-Specific Differences Following Lateral Ankle Ligament Repair

CATEGORY: Ankle; Sports INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: Chronic ankle instability is a common condition that can be treated with lateral ankle ligament repair. These procedures have a reported success rate greater than 85% in the literature, but little has been reported about the differences in postoperative outcomes between males and females. The purpose of this study was to evaluate sex-specific outcomes following lateral ankle ligament repair. METHODS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we utilized Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta- Analyses (PRISMA) criteria to search for articles on electronic databases. Inclusion criteria consisted of English-language, in-vivo clinical studies, mean follow-up of at least one year, sex-specific evaluation of outcomes, and study participants who underwent primary lateral ligament repair. Functional postoperative outcomes for males and females were recorded and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Out of 2,768 studies, eight (0.29%) met inclusion criteria and were analyzed in this review. These studies included 631 patients (409 males [65%] and 222 females [35%]) who underwent primary lateral ligament repair for ankle instability. There was no statistically significant difference between males and females in terms of Karlsson scores (93.5 +- 1.6 for males, 92.7+- 2.3 for females, P =.1582) or American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores (90.44 +- 4.82 for males, 90.19 +- 3.54 for females, P =.1586). Postoperative success was defined as a 'good' or 'excellent' Karlsson score (>81), and success rate analysis revealed no statistically significant difference between males and females (86% +- 7.1% for males, 87% +- 3.5% for females, P =.9374). CONCLUSION: There was no difference in postoperative mean Karlsson scores, AOFAS scores, or success rates between males and females who underwent primary lateral ankle ligament repair. This surgical procedure appears to have comparable outcomes in both sexes; however, more research is warranted to further assess the impact of patient sex on postoperative outcomes.