How Could MIS Play a Role for Os Trigonum Syndrome?

A recent review in the American Journal of Sports Medicine takes a closer look at where minimally invasive surgery could apply to patients with a symptomatic os trigonum. The study systematically reviews the effectiveness and safety of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for treating os trigonum syndrome, a common cause of posterior ankle pain traditionally managed through open excision. Conducted using databases like PubMed and MEDLINE up to February 2023, the review included 17 articles covering 435 patients.¹

The authors shared that their findings reveal that MIS could significantly improve patient outcomes based on preoperative and postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores (from 55.85 to 94.88) and visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores (from 7.20 to 0.71). Additionally, patients could return to sports in about 7.76 weeks on average post-MIS, with a relatively low overall complication rate of 5%, primarily involving temporary nerve issues (neuropraxia).¹

The authors say that these results suggest that MIS could be a preferable option to open surgery for os trigonum syndrome regarding recovery outcomes, speed of return to sports activities, and lower complication rates. However, the conclusion also calls for more high-quality evidence to firmly establish MIS as the preferred standard care approach over open surgery for this condition.¹

Reference

Anastasio AT, Baumann AN, Walley KC, Curtis DP, Johns WL, Amendola A. The Utilization of Minimally Invasive Surgery for Os Trigonum Syndrome: A Systematic Review. Am J Sports Med. 2024;0(0). doi:10.1177/03635465231198425