Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026.
World J Orthop. Oct 18, 2026; 17(10): 125993
Published online Oct 18, 2026. doi: 10.5312/wjo.125993
Published online Oct 18, 2026. doi: 10.5312/wjo.125993
Table 1 Individual characteristics, treatment details, and outcomes of the 16 patients
| Patient No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| Age (years) | 55 | 52 | 21 | 50 | 29 | 36 | 31 | 19 | 33 | 25 | 48 | 51 | 67 | 53 | 56 | 54 |
| Side | R | L | R | R | L | R | L | L | R | R | L | R | R | L | L | R |
| Sex | F | F | M | F | F | F | M | F | F | F | M | F | F | F | F | F |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 23.63 | 23.88 | 23.29 | 23.05 | 22.04 | 21.72 | 26.17 | 17.65 | 22.86 | 29.38 | 26.20 | 24.84 | 18.99 | 19.15 | 21.93 | 24.8 |
| Injury mechanism | Walking downstairs | Walking on level ground | Sports | Sports | Walking downstairs | Sports | Sports | Sports | Walking downstairs | Sports | Walking downstairs | Sports | Sports | Fall from a height | Fall from a height | Fall from a height |
| Injury-to-surgery interval (months) | 120 | 120 | 9 | 360 | 4 | 120 | 18 | 60 | 24 | 120 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 24 | 12 | 6 |
| VAS, preoperative | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| VAS, 1 year postoperative | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| VAS, 3 years postoperative | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| VAS, 5 years postoperative | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| AOFAS, preoperative | 75 | 58 | 80 | 83 | 44 | 64 | 60 | 77 | 79 | 84 | 70 | 69 | 61 | 54 | 87 | 70 |
| AOFAS, 1 year postoperative | 96 | 81 | 100 | 92 | 96 | 89 | 92 | 100 | 98 | 100 | 79 | 76 | 80 | 91 | 99 | 80 |
| AOFAS, 3 years postoperative | 96 | 84 | 100 | 92 | 92 | 90 | 92 | 100 | 98 | 100 | 80 | 78 | 82 | 91 | 99 | 84 |
| AOFAS, 5 years postoperative | 96 | 86 | 100 | 94 | 94 | 91 | 93 | 100 | 98 | 100 | 82 | 80 | 83 | 92 | 99 | 85 |
| FAAM, preoperative | 72.62 | 55.95 | 89.29 | 76.19 | 50.00 | 76.19 | 60.00 | 77.38 | 78.57 | 82.14 | 60.71 | 59.52 | 60.71 | 54.76 | 85.71 | 75.00 |
| FAAM, 1 year postoperative | 96.43 | 82.14 | 100.00 | 86.90 | 97.62 | 88.10 | 80.95 | 94.04 | 90.48 | 100.00 | 63.10 | 69.05 | 73.81 | 88.10 | 100.00 | 91.67 |
| FAAM, 3 years postoperative | 96.43 | 86.90 | 100.00 | 86.90 | 95.24 | 88.10 | 80.95 | 94.04 | 90.48 | 100.00 | 65.48 | 69.05 | 73.81 | 88.10 | 100.00 | 95.24 |
| FAAM, 5 years postoperative | 96.43 | 88.10 | 100.00 | 88.10 | 95.24 | 90.48 | 83.33 | 95.24 | 92.86 | 100.00 | 66.67 | 71.43 | 76.19 | 88.10 | 100.00 | 95.24 |
| Karlsson, preoperative | 62 | 52 | 80 | 75 | 39 | 64 | 55 | 72 | 74 | 79 | 60 | 59 | 57 | 52 | 80 | 64 |
| Karlsson, 1 year postoperative | 94 | 80 | 100 | 89 | 92 | 85 | 82 | 92 | 90 | 100 | 70 | 69 | 72 | 84 | 97 | 82 |
| Karlsson, 3 years postoperative | 94 | 82 | 100 | 90 | 89 | 87 | 82 | 95 | 92 | 100 | 72 | 70 | 75 | 85 | 97 | 84 |
| Karlsson, 5 years postoperative | 95 | 84 | 100 | 90 | 92 | 87 | 84 | 94 | 94 | 100 | 74 | 72 | 77 | 85 | 97 | 85 |
| Residual focal syndesmotic pain | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Button removal | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Postoperative difficulty with squatting (yes/no) | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Lateral ligament repair | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lateral ligament repair approach | Arthroscopic | Arthroscopic | Arthroscopic | Arthroscopic | Arthroscopic | Arthroscopic | Arthroscopic | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Arthroscopic | Arthroscopic | Arthroscopic | Open |
| Return to preinjury work (months) | 2.0 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| Satisfied with surgery | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- Citation: Li GC, Du CB, Lu H, Ju JB, Xu HL. Occult syndesmotic injury in chronic lateral ankle instability treated with Broström repair and suture-button stabilization. World J Orthop 2026; 17(10): 125993
- URL: https://www.wjgnet.com/2218-5836/full/v17/i10/125993.htm
- DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.5312/wjo.125993