Treatment of posttraumatic adhesive capsulitis of the ankle: a case series

BACKGROUND: Adhesive capsulitis of the ankle is a challenging diagnostic and therapeutic problem. Limited information concerning diagnosis and treatment is available in the musculoskeletal literature. METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed a series of patients treated with corticosteroid injections or arthroscopic debridement of posttraumatic adhesive capsulitis of the ankle. The Foot Function Index was used to assess the final treatment outcomes. RESULTS: Forty-one patients with chronic posttraumatic ankle pain were identified. Five were confirmed to have posttraumatic adhesive capsulitis by arthrogram. Four of the five patients failed to respond to steroid injections and three had arthroscopic surgery. Foot Function Index scores indicated that two of these patients treated with arthroscopic debridement had improved function. CONCLUSIONS: Results of small series and information from the literature suggest that intra-articular injection of corticosteroid followed by arthroscopic synovectomy and scar resection can be effective as treatment for posttraumatic adhesive capsulitis of the ankle.