Hindfoot Endoscopic Excision of Ankle Posterior Impingement Including Elderly Patients

Objective: To discuss the endoscopic findings of endoscopic surgery and the results of surgery implemented for posterior ankle bony impingement, including cases of elderly patients. Methods: The patients consisted of 5 males and 12 females. The mean age at surgery was 27.2 years old, and the mean duration of follow-up was 35.2 months. They included 5 ballet dancers, 3 baseball players, 2 badminton players, 1 soccer player and 1 lacrosse player. Four cases of elderly patients were posttraumatic. Results: The lesions of inflammatory hyperplasia of the articular capsule, synovitis, and tenosynovitis of FHL endoscopically were found in all ankles. The average AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score was improved from 56.6 points preoperatively to 96.0 points postoperatively, respectively. All patients obtained relief of the hindfoot pain and could return to their sports activities. The mean time from surgery to return sports activity was 6.1 weeks. Conclusion: This surgical technique is thus considered to be a suitable application even in cases involving elderly patients, when posterior ankle impingement syndrome is diagnosed before surgery and conservative therapy is not affected.