Mr. Chen, 25 years old, twisted his ankle while playing basketball, resulting in swelling and pain on the outer side of his ankle. Initially, he thought a few days of rest would be sufficient for recovery. However, after four months, he continued to experience pain in his outer ankle, and walking became prone to further sprains. He sought consultation from Dr. Yang Zizheng, an orthopedic physician at China Medical University Hsinchu Hospital. Through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and physical examinations, it was discovered that the patient had a ruptured ligament on the outer side of his ankle. After discussing with the patient, he opted for arthroscopic minimally invasive ligament repair surgery. Following the approximately one-hour surgery, the patient was able to walk to the restroom on the same day and was discharged the next day for home recovery. Two weeks after the surgery, he resumed normal walking, experienced improved pain, and no further instances of spraining occurred.
Mr. Zhang, 67 years old, had injured his right ankle in his younger years and occasionally experienced pain, but due to a busy work schedule, he did not seek medical attention. Over the past two years, the pain had become increasingly noticeable, to the point where he couldn't walk normally. Imaging examinations revealed severe degeneration of the ankle joint, and this degeneration was irreversible. The patient underwent arthroscopic minimally invasive ankle fusion surgery. After approximately two hours of surgery, the patient was able to walk the day after and was discharged two days later. The recovery was good after the surgery, and the pain improved significantly.
Dr. Yang explained that arthroscopic minimally invasive surgery involves the use of an endoscope with a diameter of 0.2 to 0.4 cm, combined with small incisions. The endoscope and light source are inserted into the joint cavity to examine the joint pathology and perform surgical treatment. Compared to traditional open incisions, arthroscopic minimally invasive surgery reduces damage to soft tissues, resulting in less postoperative pain, faster recovery, and fewer wound complications for patients.
Dr. Yang further emphasized that ankle arthroscopy is used in conditions such as degenerative ankle arthritis, ankle ligament rupture, and osteochondral defects of the foot and ankle. However, even with advancements in arthroscopic techniques, severe deformities or complex injuries may still require adjunct traditional surgery. Therefore, regardless of the severity of the injury or discomfort, seeking early medical attention is advised to avoid more severe damage and troublesome sequelae.
