Twenty-six-year results after Brostrom procedure for chronic lateral ankle instability

Background: The procedure described by Brostrom has been used to address chronic lateral ankle instability; the long-term results of this procedure have not been reported. Hypothesis: The Brostrom procedure provides good results over the long term for active patients with chronic lateral ankle instability. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Thirty-one male patients (32 ankles) who underwent the Brostrom procedure for chronic lateral ankle instability while enrolled as students at the United States Naval Academy were identified. Each patient was mailed a questionnaire that included a functional outcome measure as described by Roos et al, a score described by Good et al, and a single-number ankle functional assessment. The mean age was 20.7 years (range, 18-23 years) at the time of operation. A functional outcome score was completed on each patient, with a mean follow-up of 26.3 years (range, 24.6-27.9 years). Results: The follow-up included 22 of the 31 original patients. The mean numeric score for overall ankle function was 91.2 of 100 (standard deviation, 10.2). The foot and ankle outcome score (described by Roos et al) was 92.0 (92%; standard deviation, 12.8) averaged over 5 functional areas. Ninety-one percent of the patients described their ankle function as good or excellent using the scale devised by Good et al. Conclusion: The long-term results of the Brostrom procedure for chronic lateral ankle instability are excellent with 26-year follow-up.