Ankle - Anterior Approach

This Ankle – Anterior Approach course will teach you:

• To gain exposure of the anterior part of the ankle. The anterior approach allows access to the ankle joint, the distal tibia and the talar dome. The superficial fibular nerve may be encountered early on in the procedure. After the dorsal fascia of the foot and the deep fascia of the leg are transected, the deep fibular nerve, the anterior tibial artery and the anterior tibial vein are encountered.

Special attention is paid to the following hazards you may encounter during the Ankle – Anterior Approach:

• Superficial fibular nerve injury
• Neurovascular bundle injury
• Superficial branches of the fibular nerve injury

With the following tips you might perform the Ankle – Anterior Approach even better:

• Extensor hallucis longus tendon identification
• Incision length considerations
• Skin flap creation for better exposure
• The use of scissors
• Extensor retinaculum and fascia identification
• Neurovascular bundle identification
• Tissue protection during transection of the inferior extensor retinaculum
• Instrument usage
• Neurovascular bundle retraction using a vessel loop
• Skin incision extension distally
• Skin incision extension proximally
• Deep fascia of the leg closure
• Tension on the thread during closure
• Alternative closure

After studying the Ankle – Anterior Approach course you are familiar with the most common complications:

• Persistent swelling
• Wound complications
• Superficial fibular nerve injury
• Deep fibular nerve injury
• Postoperative joint stiffness

You might also be interested in:
Ankle – Posterolateral Approach
Ankle – Medial Approach
Ankle – Lateral Approach