Outcomes of arthroscopic-assisted mini-open anatomic reconstruction using autologous tendon for ankle ligament injuries and its effect on functional recovery

Q: How were patients allocated to autograft and allograft groups?

Patients were assigned to autograft or allograft groups based on surgical selection, and propensity score matching (1:1) yielded 55 patients per group.

Q: Which outcomes showed better results with autologous tendon reconstruction?

The autograft group had superior collateral ligament grade recovery and greater functional improvements, including higher AOFAS and Tegner scores and larger reductions in VAS, Mcd, and Msd.

Sep 29, 2026

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This retrospective comparative cohort study evaluates functional recovery after ankle ligament injuries using arthroscopic-assisted mini-open anatomic reconstruction with autologous versus allogeneic tendons. Data from 210 patients treated between June 2021 and June 2024 were analyzed, and propensity score matching produced 55 patients per group. Imaging grades and functional outcomes (AOFAS, Tegner, VAS, Mcd, Msd) were assessed pre- and postoperatively, with generalized estimating equations modeling changes. Autograft reconstruction showed superior collateral ligament grade recovery and greater improvements in functional scores with more pronounced pain reduction.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Yang et al. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders (2026) 27:6 [https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-025-09323-2](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-025-09323-2) BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders RESEARCH Open Access Outcomes of arthroscopic-assisted mini-open anatomic reconstruction using autologous tendon for ankle ligament injuries and its effect on functional recovery Shaoxu Yang 1,2, Chenhao Ma 1,2, Liwei Wang 1,2, Yitian Du 1,2 and Liang Chen 1,2* Abstract Objective To compare the efficacy of arthroscopic anatomic reconstruction using autologous versus allogeneic tendons in restoration of ankle function following ligament injuries. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study and enrolled 210 consecutive patients with ankle ligament injuries treated between June 2021 and June 2024. Participants were allocated to autograft (n = 106) or al lograft (n = 104) groups based on surgical selection. Propensity score matching (1:1) yielded 55 patients per group. We analyzed clinical data, six imaging parameters (Grades 0-III), and functional scores (AOFAS, Tegner, VAS, medial compartment displacement [Mcd], medial space difference [Msd]), examining their interrelationships. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) modeled functional score changes pre-/post-operatively. Results Both groups showed improved imaging grades and functional scores postoperatively. The autograft group achieved superior outcomes: medial/lateral collateral ligament grades recovered from mean grade III to 0 (P < 0.05 vs. al lograft); AOFAS increased from 58.96 ± 7.34 to 90.71 ± 14. 78(P < 0. 05) . Significant intergroup differences persisted in collateral ligament grades and functional scores (all P < 0. 05) . Pre-to postoperative changes in ligament grades significantly correlated with functional score improvements (P < 0. 05) . Improvements in imaging parameters strongly correlated with functional score enhancement rates (P < 0. 05), particularly for anterior/posterior tibiotalar ligaments. GEE modeling demonstrated significantly greater functional gains in the autograft group: AOFAS (β = 1 . 656, P < 0. 001), Tegner (β = 1 . 172, P = 0 . 005), and greater reductions in VAS (β = -2 . 532, P < 0. 001), Mcd (β = -2 . 288, P < 0. 001), and Msd (β = -1 . 957, P < 0. 001) . Conclusion Arthroscopic autologous tendon reconstruction yields superior ligament integrity and functional recovery compared with allograft reconstruction. Keywords Arthroscopy, Anatomic reconstruction using autologous tendon, Ankle ligament injuries, Functional recovery *Correspondence: Liang Chen [ChenLiangDOC@163.com](ChenLiangDOC@163.com) 1The Tenth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kangxin Road, Zhongshan, Guangdong 528401, China 2Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kangxin Road, Zhongshan, Guangdong 528401, China © The Author(s) 2025. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, which permits any non-commercial use, sharing, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if you modified the licensed material. You do not have permission under this licence to share adapted material derived from this article or parts of it. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit [http://creati](http://creati)[vecommons.org/l](vecommons.org/l)icenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. Yang et al. BMC Musculoskeletal D

FAQs

What is the study objective regarding tendon choice for ankle ligament reconstruction?

To compare the efficacy of arthroscopic anatomic reconstruction using autologous versus allogeneic tendons for restoring ankle function after ligament injuries.

How were patients allocated to autograft and allograft groups?

Patients were assigned to autograft or allograft groups based on surgical selection, and propensity score matching (1:1) yielded 55 patients per group.

Which outcomes showed better results with autologous tendon reconstruction?

The autograft group had superior collateral ligament grade recovery and greater functional improvements, including higher AOFAS and Tegner scores and larger reductions in VAS, Mcd, and Msd.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Muffet