Ankle arthroscopy under the scope

The main focus of this thesis was to provide surgical specific tools with the aim to reduce complication rates in ankle arthroscopic surgery. Reviewing and studying the ankle anatomy mainly by performing numerous dissections allowed us to optimise the frequently lacking surgery specific anatomical knowledge. Understanding and respecting the anatomy is paramount in the safe performance of any surgery. An example is the superficial peroneal nerve. This nerve is unique for its possibility to be identified through the human skin during the physical examination. Despite this feature, iatrogenic injury to this nerve was the most frequently reported complication following portal placement in an anterior ankle arthroscopy. By optimising the identification techniques, together with a guideline for the safe location of the portal following the identification, complication rates will drop.
Also the hindfoot endoscopic technique was refurbished, a minimally invasive surgical technique was introduced to treat recurrent peroneal tendon dislocation and the promising midterm results of the posterior ankle arthroscopic fusion were highlighted.