2025 ISAKOS Biennial Congress Paper
Development And Validation Of The Ankle-Go Score For Discriminating And Predicting Return-To-Sport Outcomes After Lateral Ankle Sprain
Ronny Lopes, MD, Lyon FRANCE
Brice Picot, PhD, Chambery FRANCE
François FOURCHET, PhD, Geneve SWITZERLAND
Alexandre Hardy, MD, PhD, Paris, Europe FRANCE
Centre Orthopedique Santy, LYON, Sélectionnez, FRANCE
FDA Status Cleared
Summary
Ankle-GO is the first objective score to help in the decision-making of the RTS after LAS. At 2 months, patients with an Ankle-GO score <8 points are unlikely to RTS at the same preinjury level.
Abstract
Background
Lateral ankle sprain (LAS) is the most common sports-related injury. However, there are currently no published evidence-based criteria to guide the patient's return to sport (RTS) and this decision is generally time-based. The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of a new score (Ankle-GO) and its predictive ability for RTS at the same level of play after LAS. HYPOTHESIS: The Ankle-GO is robust for discriminating and predicting RTS outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective diagnostic study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 2. METHODS: The Ankle-GO was administered to 30 healthy participants and 64 patients at 2 and 4 months after LAS. The score was calculated as the sum of 6 tests for a maximum of 25 points. Construct validity, internal consistency, discriminant validity, and test-retest reliability were used to validate the score. The predictive value for the RTS was also validated based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: The internal consistency of the score was good (Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.79) with no ceiling or floor effect. Test-retest reliability was excellent (intraclass coefficient correlation = 0.99) with a minimum detectable change of 1.2 points. The 2-month scores were significantly lower than 4-month and control group scores (7.7 ± 4, 13.9 ± 4.6, and 19.6 ± 3.4 points, respectively, P < 0.01). Ankle-GO values were also significantly higher in patients who returned to their preinjury level at 4 months compared with those who did not (P < 0.01). The predictive value of the 2-month Ankle-GO score was fair for a RTS at the same or higher than preinjury level at 4 months (area under ROC curve, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.65-0.89; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The Ankle-GO appears to be a valid and robust score for clinicians to predict and discriminate RTS in patients after LAS.