Ankle arthroscopy: neurovascular and arthroscopic anatomy of standard and trans-achilles tendon portal placement

Abstract

Ankle arthroscopy is an accepted method of evaluating ankle disorders. Accurate arthroscopic portal placement is essential because of the proximity of superficial and deep neurovascular and tendinous structures of the ankle. In order to define this anatomy as it pertains to safe portal placement, five fresh frozen cadaver ankles were dissected after standard arthroscopic portals were placed anteriorly and posteriorly. All structures were identified. The distances to these structures from the most lateral portals were recorded. Five other ankles were arthroscoped using standard portals and evaluated. In addition, a trans-achilles tendon (TAT) approach was evaluated for portal use. Ankle arthroscopy can be performed in a safe, reproducible manner when the following recommendations are followed: (a) outline tendinous structures, and remain parallel to them with the knife blade to avoid laceration of underlying structures; (b) penetrate only the skin with the knife to avoid laceration of superficial nerves in the subcutaneous tissue; (c) perform pre- and postneurovascular examination; and (d) understand that anterocentral and posteromedial portals are potentially hazardous to their respective neurovascular bundles. The TAT approach, based only on cadaver studies, appears anatomically safe and offers the potential advantage of an additional posterior portal.