ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of Tang’s arthroscopy approach in treatment of anterior and posterior ankle impingement syndrome.MethodsBetween August 2010 and September 2017, 92 patients with anterior and posterior ankle impingement syndrome were retrospectively analyzed. There were 58 patients were treated with Tang’s arthroscopy approach under floating decubitus (group A) and 34 patients were treated with standard anterior and posterior approaches (group B). There was no significant difference in gender, age, body mass index, side, disease duration, preoperative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score between the two groups (P>0.05).The operation time, AOFAS score, VAS score, and Roles-Maudsley score were recorded to evaluated the pain and function of the ankle, and patient subjective satisfaction. The X-ray film and MRI at 12 months were used to observe the ankle impingement.ResultsMedian operation time of group A was 50.5 minutes ［95%CI (49.3, 54.6)］, which was significantly shorter than that of group B ［88.5 minutes, 95%CI (76.5, 92.8)］ (Z=−4.685, P=0.000). All incisions in group A healed by first intention; while the incisions of 2 cases in group B delayed healed after debridement. The follow-up time of group A was (54.7±18.8) months, while that of group B was (55.4±17.9) months, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (t=−0.178, P=0.859). The lateral X-ray films at 12 months showed that the talus process was removed incompletely in 2 cases (3.4%) of group A and 1 case (2.9%) of group B. There was no significant difference in the incidence between the two groups (χ2=0.014, P=0.699). At last follow-up, the AOFAS scores were 83.1±6.6 in group A and 85.2±6.4 in group B; the VAS scores were 1.3±1.1 in group A and 1.6±1.0 in group B. The AOFAS and VAS scores at last follow-up were superior to preoperative ones (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The median subjective satisfaction score of group A was 2.0 ［95%(1.4, 1.7)］, which was better than that of group B ［2.0, 95%(1.6, 2.2)］ (Z=−2.480, P=0.013).ConclusionArthroscopic treatment of anterior and posterior ankle impingement syndrome through Tang’s approach can shorten the operation time, simplify the procedures, and obtain good effectiveness and patient satisfaction.