A perspective on arthroscopic treatment for anterior ankle impingement syndrome: clinical research insights.

Introduction: Anterior ankle impingement syndrome (AAIS) is a degenerative condition that causes anterior ankle pain and limited dorsiflexion, especially in athletes. It results from either osseous (osteophytes) or soft tissue (synovial hypertrophy, fibrosis) pathology. Methods: Although conservative treatments offer temporary relief, arthroscopic surgery has become the preferred approach due to its minimally invasive technique and surgical precision. Results: Current evidence shows 80%-90% success rates, with significant improvements in visual analog scale scores (mean reduction of 4.1 points) and American orthopedic foot & ankle society scores (mean increase of 28 points), along with low complication rates (2%-7%). However, outcomes are closely linked to the severity of pre-existing osteoarthritis, with 93% success in non-arthritic joints compared to 53% in cases with moderate osteoarthritis. Key research limitations include heterogeneous study designs, small sample sizes, and a lack of long-term data (only 18.6% of studies report ≥5-year follow-up). Discussion: Future research should focus on standardizing outcome measures, assessing the cost-effectiveness of advanced techniques, and establishing evidence-based protocols for patient selection and rehabilitation. These efforts will help optimize surgical decision-making and enhance long-term outcomes for patients with AAIS.