METHODS: We performed a systematic review in multiple databases (including PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Scopus) from 1966 to May 18, 2019, to identify all case reports and case series describing patients with ankle pseudo aneurysm. This systematic review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA). Our inclusion criteria included patients with ankle pseudo aneurysm of any age. We excluded reports in which the individual level data is not available. Patients demographic (gender, age), clinical characteristics (precipitating event, duration), diagnostic modality and treatment were recorded.
RESULT: There were in total 23 case reports identified on ankle pseudo aneurysm from 1966 until 2018. Among these twenty-three reports, 16 (70%) were male and seven (30%) patients were female. Age distribution showed higher number of reports among young adults, 15 patients (65%). Based on our systematic review trauma (48%), arthroscope (48%) and arthrodesis (4%) were the etiologies described in all these case reports. Ultrasound duplex and CT Angiogram has been used as a single modality in three reports each. In fifteen patients (65%) combination of imaging has been used for diagnosis. Anterior tibial artery is the most commonly injured vessel among the reported cases, comprised of 14 (61%) patients. Among these arthroscopes were the highest reported precipitating events, 9 (64%), followed by trauma in four patients (29%) and arthrodesis in one patient (7%). Treatment modalities described in all previous reports were excision and ligation, 10 (42%); excision of sac and primary repair, 4 (17%); excision of sac followed by reversed saphenous venous graft repair, 2 (8%); US guided compression, 2 (8%); US guided thrombin injection, 4 (17%); stenting, 1 (4%) and coiling, 1 (4%).
CONCLUSION: Ankle pseudoaneurysm is mostly preventable by detailed initial assessment following trauma or careful approach during arthroscope. Evolving diagnostic modality and treatment has shed some light into noninvasive management of pseudo aneurysm of ankle.
Methods: Seven patients with acute grade 1 ankle sprain (15 days of ankle sprain) were recruited. They were provided with 7 days of protection, optimal loading, ice, compression, and elevation (POLICE) treatment, and the standard physiotherapy programme consisted of towel stretching and balancing exercises on one leg. Pain scale score was recorded daily during the physiotherapy programme. The isokinetic ankle strengths of the patient's injured and uninjured legs were compared before and after the physiotherapy programme. Isokinetic tests were conducted in painless range of motion for the injured leg.
Results: Pain was significantly reduced after the patients underwent the standard physiotherapy programme. No significant differences were observed in terms of the ankle peak torque, time to peak torque, and ankle plantar flexion-to-dorsiflexion ratio of the injured and uninjured legs. The injured leg showed significant improvement in terms of ankle eversion-to-inversion ratio (E:I) after 7 days of performing the standard physiotherapy programme.
Conclusion: Performing the standard physiotherapy programme for 1 week reduces pain and improves the ankle E:I in patients with grade 1 ankle sprain.