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What's New — Ankle — December 2025

8 new articles published this month.

Themes: Achilles Tendon Ruptures and Repair · Chronic Ankle Instability and Rehabilitation · Syndesmosis and Complex Ankle Trauma

Digest generated 2026-04-16 00:49:29+00:00.


Highlights

Achilles Tendon Ruptures and Repair

Recent literature highlights the biomechanics and management of Achilles tendon ruptures (ATR) in high-performance settings. A systematic video analysis of NBA players reveals that most ATRs occur during non-contact, closed-chain movements in offensive situations, providing critical insights into injury mechanisms [2]. Complementing this, a retrospective cohort study compares absorbable versus non-absorbable sutures for ATR repair, evaluating medium- to long-term outcomes using musculoskeletal ultrasound and functional metrics to guide surgical decision-making [4]. Together, these studies address both the etiology and optimal surgical treatment of this severe injury [2, 4].

Chronic Ankle Instability and Rehabilitation

Three studies focus on the assessment and rehabilitation of chronic ankle instability (CAI) in athletic populations. A systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy of combining stroboscopic visual training with balance exercises, suggesting potential benefits for neuromuscular control [5]. Further, a case-control study investigates dynamic postural stability indices during multi-directional landing tasks, identifying specific deficits in CAI athletes [7]. Additionally, a pilot cross-sectional study analyzes the discriminative efficacy of functional performance tests specifically for lower-limb injuries in Chinese elite female basketball athletes, offering context-specific diagnostic tools [6]. These works collectively advance the understanding of CAI assessment and targeted rehabilitation strategies [5, 6, 7].

Syndesmosis and Complex Ankle Trauma

This theme encompasses research on high-energy ankle injuries and complex deformities. A systematic review and meta-analysis provides crucial data on return-to-sport rates and timelines for elite athletes following ankle syndesmosis injuries, addressing a key concern for sports medicine clinicians [1]. In the realm of complex pathology, a case report details the successful treatment of melorheostosis causing severe knee and ankle deformity through total knee arthroplasty combined with V-Y quadricepsplasty, highlighting rare but challenging orthopaedic scenarios [3]. These articles cover both acute sports trauma recovery and rare congenital/developmental deformities [1, 3].

Articles by Theme

Achilles Tendon Ruptures and Repair (2)

2. Köyağasıoğlu O, Lima Y. Achilles tendon ruptures in National Basketball Association players: A sequential video analysis of injury mechanisms and biomechanical patterns. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 2025. doi:10.1002/ksa.70249

Researchers conducted a sequential video analysis of 27 Achilles tendon ruptures in NBA players to characterize injury mechanisms and biomechanical patterns. The study found that most ruptures occurred during non-contact, closed-chain movements in offensive play, specifically during the take-off or acceleration phase. This highlights the critical role of specific biomechanical loading patterns in injury prevention strategies for basketball players.

4. Chen D, Liu Y, Zheng L, et al. Absorbable versus non-absorbable sutures in Achilles tendon rupture repair: a retrospective cohort study evaluating medium- to long-term outcomes via musculoskeletal ultrasound and functional metrics. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research 2025. doi:10.1186/s13018-025-06491-8

This retrospective cohort study compared medium- to long-term outcomes of absorbable versus non-absorbable sutures in Achilles tendon rupture repair using musculoskeletal ultrasound and functional metrics. The analysis aimed to determine if suture type significantly influences re-rupture rates, tendon healing quality, or functional recovery over time. Results will guide surgeons in selecting optimal suture materials to balance healing efficacy with potential complications.

Chronic Ankle Instability and Rehabilitation (3)

5. Luo Y, Zhang X, Li S, et al. Stroboscopic visual training combined with balance exercises for chronic ankle instability: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research 2025. doi:10.1186/s13018-025-06353-3

A systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the efficacy of combining stroboscopic visual training with balance exercises for treating chronic ankle instability. The synthesis of evidence indicates that this multimodal approach significantly improves dynamic stability and reduces recurrence compared to standard care. Clinicians can utilize these findings to implement enhanced rehabilitation protocols for athletes with persistent ankle instability.

6. Zhang L, Xiong X, Zhang M, et al. Discriminative efficacy and comparative analysis of functional performance tests for lower-limb injuries in Chinese elite female basketball athletes: a pilot cross-sectional study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2025. doi:10.1186/s12891-025-09398-x

This pilot cross-sectional study evaluated the discriminative efficacy of various functional performance tests for lower-limb injuries in Chinese elite female basketball athletes. The research identified specific tests that best differentiate between injured and uninjured athletes within this demographic. These results support the development of targeted screening tools for injury risk assessment in female basketball populations.

7. Zhang X, Ruan B, Gao Q. Dynamic postural stability indices in athletes: a case-control study on chronic ankle instability during multi-directional landing assessments. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2025. doi:10.1186/s12891-025-09307-2

This case-control study investigated dynamic postural stability indices in athletes with chronic ankle instability during multi-directional landing assessments. The findings revealed distinct deficits in stability control during complex landing tasks compared to healthy controls. These insights help refine diagnostic criteria and inform rehabilitation exercises focused on multi-planar stability.

Syndesmosis and Complex Ankle Trauma (2)

1. Li R, Sun C, Qi P, et al. Return-to-sport rate and time in elite athletes after ankle syndesmosis injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research 2025. doi:10.1186/s13018-025-06566-6

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated return-to-sport rates and timelines for elite athletes following ankle syndesmosis injuries. The study synthesized data to determine the proportion of athletes who successfully returned to play and the average time required for recovery. These findings provide clinicians with evidence-based benchmarks for counseling athletes and planning rehabilitation protocols after this specific injury.

3. Chen Z, Wu H, Xing D, et al. The melorheostosis with severe knee and ankle deformity treated by total knee arthroplasty with V-Y quadricepsplasty: a case report and literature review. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2025. doi:10.1186/s12891-025-09450-w

This case report and literature review describes the successful treatment of a patient with melorheostosis and severe knee and ankle deformities using total knee arthroplasty combined with V-Y quadricepsplasty. The surgical approach effectively addressed the complex deformity and restored function in a rare presentation of the disease. The case offers a valuable reference for managing severe skeletal dysplasias involving multiple joints.

8. Siegel MG. Editorial Commentary: Lower-Leg Alignment Changes After Opening-Wedge Tibial Osteotomy: The Third Law of Motion and the Future of the Tibial Osteotomy. Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery 2025. doi:10.1016/j.arthro.2025.09.004

This editorial commentary discusses the biomechanical implications of lower-leg alignment changes following opening-wedge tibial osteotomy, referencing the 'Third Law of Motion.' The author explores how these alignment shifts influence future surgical techniques and long-term joint health. The piece serves as a conceptual framework for optimizing osteotomy procedures to improve patient outcomes.

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