Patient-reported evolution of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool after arthroscopic anatomic lateral ligament reconstruction: A retrospective study of 134 cases.

Purpose: To describe the longitudinal evolution of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) after arthroscopic anatomic lateral ligament reconstruction (AALR) and examine associations between CAIT-defined patient-perceived stability, return to sport (RTS) and preoperative factors. Methods: This retrospective single-centre cohort included 134 athletic patients who underwent AALR between January 2019 and January 2023 and had at least 12 months of follow-up. CAIT was assessed preoperatively and at 3, 6 and 12 months. Patient-perceived stability was defined as CAIT ≥ 24. Repeated continuous and binary outcomes were assessed using paired-data methods. RTS was defined as self-reported resumption of sport by 12 months, irrespective of level. Results: Median CAIT increased from 8 preoperatively to 23, 26 and 28 at 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively (overall Conclusion: Patient-reported ankle function measured by CAIT improved during the first postoperative year after AALR, with the largest change occurring by 6 months. CAIT may complement, but should not replace, objective examination and multidimensional RTS assessment. The identified associations are exploratory and require prospective validation. Level of Evidence: Level III.