• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2000

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the gutter pathologies and the clinical results of arthroscopic treatment for ankle gutter syndrome. Materials and Methods : Seventy six patients(77 ankles) who had lesions in the ankle gutter were treated by arthroscopy. The gutter pathology could be divided into 3 categories; hypertrophic scar tissue, loose bodies and bone spurs. Fifty two patients were evaluated subjectively and functionally with authors' criteria. The follow-up period averaged 44 months(range, 2.9 year-8.5 year). Results : The incidence of the gutter lesion was $21\%$(77 ankles) among 366 ankles undergoing arthroscopy. The most common pathology was hypertrophic scar tissue. In 31 ankles$(40\%)$, the lesions were found only in gutter, and 46 ankles$(60\%)$ were associated with pathologies in other areas. All of parameters for subjective and functional evaluation were improved with statistical significance(p<0.001). Seventeen patients$(33\%)$ could returned to competitive or contact sports activity with same level of premorbid period. Conclusion : Ankle gutter is an important site of pathologies which cause chronic ankle pain, and should be explored in ankle arthroscopy. The ankle arthroscopy is a very effective treatment method fur the removal of pathologies in ankle gutter syndrome.