Sports Medicine - Open (Mar 2024)

Low Ankle-GO Score While Returning to Sport After Lateral Ankle Sprain Leads to a 9-fold Increased Risk of Recurrence: A Two-year Prospective Cohort Study

  • Brice Picot,
  • François Fourchet,
  • Ronny Lopes,
  • Gauthier Rauline,
  • Kinan Freiha,
  • Pieter D’hooghe,
  • Eugénie Valentin,
  • Alexandre Hardy

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-024-00693-w
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Abstract Background Lateral ankle sprain (LAS) is the most common sports injury, leading to a high rate of recurrence and the development of chronic ankle instability. One possible explanation is the lack of objective, evidence-based criteria to inform return to sport decisions following LAS. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the efficacy of a new functional score to distinguish patients at risk of recurrent LAS within two years after the initial injury. Methods The Ankle-GO score was used in 64 active patients two months after LAS. This composite score includes 2 self-reported questionnaires and 4 functional tests, for a maximum score of 25 points. The rate of reinjury was prospectively recorded 2 years after inclusion. Potential predictive variables for reinjury were tested using the Chi-square and independent t-tests. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) with the optimal cut-off score was determined to assess the predictive value of the Ankle-GO score for the risk of reinjury. Multivariate logistic regression was then used to determine the influence of risk factors of reinjury. Results Fifty-four (85%) patients were included (23 men and 31 women, 34.7 ± 13 years old) including 18 (33.3%) with a reinjury. The two-month Ankle-GO score was lower in patients with a recurrent LAS (5.4 ± 2.8 points vs. 9.1 ± 4.5, p = 0.002) and predicted the risk of reinjury (AUC = 0.75). Patients with < 8 points were found to have a significantly higher risk of reinjury (OR = 8.6; 95%CI: 2-37.2, p = 0.001). Women also tend to have a higher risk of recurrence (OR = 3.8; 95%CI: 0.9–15.5, p = 0.065). Conclusion The Ankle-GO score is a new objective criterion for RTS after LAS. Patients with a low score at two months have a 9-fold greater risk of recurrence within two years.

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