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Preoperative Patient Care
Operative Techniques
E

Preoperative Plan

1

Determine pathology

2

Execute surgical walkthrough

  • describe steps of the procedure verbally to the attending prior to the start of the case
  • describe potential complications and steps to avoid them
F

Room Preparation

1

Surgical Instrumentation

  • standard arthroscopy pump

2

Room setup and Equipment

  • standard OR table with leg holder

3

Patient Positioning

  • supine
  • leg holders
G

Ankle Distractor Placement

1

Check the instrumentation

  • inspect all instruments
  • confirm that all parts of the noninvasive external distractor are sterile on the operative field

2

Place the patient for placement of the ankle distractor

  • place the patient on the operative table supine
  • the foot should rest within 10 cm of the end of the bed
  • place a bump under the hip to internally rotate the leg so that the toes are pointing straight up
  • place a tourniquet on the calf below the level of the fibular head to prevent peroneal nerve impingement
  • flex the hip 60 degrees
  • place the posterior thigh on a well padded thigh holder
  • secure with straps
  • prep and drape the ankle with standard arthroscopic draping
  • the distal portion of the arthroscopy drape is pulled off the end of the foot to allow distractor placement
  • place the bed clamp as far distal on the bed as possible
  • the external distractor strap is placed with the foam portions over the posterior inferior heel and on the dorsal foot
  • after creating equal lengths on the medial and lateral sides of the foot pull the hook lop distally with manual distraction
  • once this is connected use the threaded rod to provide further distraction to the ankle
H

Anterior Portal Placement

1

Prepare the ankle

  • inject the ankle with 10 cc of sterile saline via the anteromedial ankle
  • this allows identification of the correct orientation and location for the anteromedial arthroscopy portal

2

Make incision

  • make a 5 mm longitudinal skin incision and spread the subcutaneous tissue down to and then through the capsule with a small hemostat
  • A small gush of fluid will confirm the intra-articular location

3

Enter the joint

  • use a blunt tip trocar with the arthroscopic cannula to enter the joint
  • insert the arthroscope and start the water flow

4

Start the water pressure

  • place the water pressure about 5 mmhg above the systolic pressure if possible but no higher than 120 mmhg
  • this will help reduce the bleeding which often obscures the view
  • unless there is severe arthrofibrotric tissue in the anterior ankle the anterolateral ankle should be easily visualized upon introducing the arthroscope

5

Make the anterolateral portal

  • introduce the 18 gauge needle from the anterolateral portal location
  • this serves 2 purposes
  • allows for water flow through the needle which allows better visualization
  • identifies the correct location of the portal incision in order to access the joint properly
  • inspect the joint
  • distraction allows for much greater joint inspection than otherwise possible
  • make the anterolateral portal in the same fashion to the anteromedial portal
I

Anteromedial Inferior Portal Placement

1

Place the portal

  • visualize the medial gutter with the arthroscope through the anteromedial portal

2

Place the 18 gauge needle

  • introduce an 18 gauge needle into the inferior medial gutter which is usually 10 mm inferior to the normal anteromedial portal location
  • once the needle is confirmed to be in the proper position a new portal is then made as described earlier
  • this portal in combination with the conventional anteromedial portal can be used to first inspect and then debride the far anteromedial ankle joint and deltoid insertion
J

Posterior Coaxial Portal Placement

1

Make the skin incision

  • with the arthroscope and inflow in the anterolateral portal make the posterolateral portal with a small vertical skin incision immediately posterior to the peroneal tendon sheath and 1.5 cm proximal to the tip of the fibula

2

Position the ankle

  • hold the ankle in neutral dorsiflexion

3

Place the trocar

  • insert the arthroscope sheath and blunt trocar anterior and slightly inferior on a plane parallel to the bimalleolar axis

4

Confirm placement

  • confirm intracapsular placement by briefly inserting the arthroscope

5

Place switching rod

  • insert a long switching rod through the cannula and direct it towards the medial malleolus
  • use the rod to palpate the posterior colliculus and penetrate just anterior to the posterior tibial tendon

6

Place the posteromedial portal

  • tent and incise the skin over the posteromedial ankle
  • pass a second cannula over the switching stick into the posterior ankle recess

7

Maneuver the arthroscope

8

Place the sheath and blunt trocar appropiately

  • insert the arthroscope sheat and blunt trocar anterior and slightly inferior on a plane parallel to the bimalleolar axis

9

Confirm placement

  • confirm intracapsular placement by briefly inserting the arthroscope
  • for synovectomies or posteromedial osteochondral lesions, place the arthroscope in the posterolateral cannula while the posteromedial cannula is used as the working portal
K

Anatomy Visualization

1

Visualize the ligaments

2

Test the lateral and medial ligament stability

  • apply gentle varus, valgus and anterior pull stress
  • evert and pronate the foot to test deltoid ligament stability
  • check lateral instability
  • check for talar tilting by supination stress of the foot
L

Wound Closure

1

Use 3-0 and 4-0 biosyn for closure

2

Apply steristrips

3

Cover with tegaderm and occlusive dressings

Postoperative Patient Care
Private Note