2026 SICOT Annual Meeting: Functional outcomes following ankle fracture fixation with or without ankle arthroscopy: Randomized controlled study

174 patients with unstable ankle fractures were randomized to receive open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with ankle arthroscopy (n=88) or ORIF alone (n=86). The primary outcome of interest was functional recovery assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Score. Secondary outcomes included return to work, operative time, postoperative complications, persistent symptoms, and intraoperative arthroscopic findings. Outcomes were assessed at 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Overall, the results revealed no significant differences in functional outcomes or persistent symptoms between treatment groups at 12 or 24 months. Both approaches demonstrated comparable recovery timelines. These findings suggest that adding ankle arthroscopy to ORIF does not provide additional functional benefits for patients with unstable ankle fractures.