The correlation between clinical and ultrasound evaluation of anterior talofibular ligament and calcaneofibular ligament tears in athletes

Author(s):  
John George ◽  
Zulkarnain Jaafar ◽  
Indar R. Hairi ◽  
Kamarul H. Hussein
2021 ◽  
pp. 107110072199707
Author(s):  
Yasunari Ikuta ◽  
Tomoyuki Nakasa ◽  
Junichi Sumii ◽  
Akinori Nekomoto ◽  
Nobuo Adachi

Background: Rotational ankle instability (RAI) is associated with the faster onset of severe ankle osteoarthritis via dysfunction of the anterior talofibular ligament, calcaneofibular ligament, and deltoid ligament. No specific clinical examination is available for RAI, and diagnostic imaging has limitations in evaluating ligament degradation. This study investigated the deltoid ligament degeneration using Hounsfield unit (HU) values on computed tomography (CT) images. Methods: Patients were enrolled in this retrospective analysis if they had undergone magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT scans of the ankle. The chronic ankle instability (CAI) group comprised 20 ankles with CAI (9 men, 11 women; mean age, 28.7 years) and the control group comprised 28 ankles (16 men, 12 women, mean age, 41.3 years). The average HU values of the deep posterior tibiotalar ligament (dPTL) that constitutes the deltoid ligament were measured on coronal CT images, and MRI results were used as a reference. All patients were subdivided based on the MRI findings of dPTL injury such as fascicular disruption, irregularity, and the loss of striation. Results: A strong negative correlation was identified between age and HU values for all patients (Spearman ρ = −0.63; P < .001). The mean HU values of the dPTL for participants aged <60 years were 81.0 HU for the control group (21 ankles) and 69.5 HU for the CAI group ( P = .0075). No significant differences in the HU values were observed for the dPTL among the MRI subgroups. Conclusion: In addition to the conventional imaging examination such as stress radiographs and MRI, HU measurements of CT images could be useful for quantitatively and noninvasively evaluating degenerative changes in the deltoid ligament for CAI patients to assist the diagnosis of RAI. Level of Evidence: Level III. case-control study.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pawel Szaro ◽  
Khaldun Ghali Gataa ◽  
Nektarios Solidakis ◽  
Przemysław Pękala

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to test the hypothesis that routine MRI ankle can be used to evaluate dimensions and correlations between dimensions of single and double fascicular variants of the ATFL and the CFL. Methods We reviewed ankle MRIs for 251 patients. Differences between the length, thickness, width, and length of the bony attachments were evaluated twice. P < .05 was considered as significant. Results For the ATFL, we observed a negative correlation between thickness and width, with a positive correlation between thickness and length (p < 0.001). The average values for the ATFL were thickness, 2.2 ± 0.05 mm; length, 21.5 ± 0.5 mm; and width, 7.6 ± 0.6 mm. The average values for the CFL were thickness, 2.1 ± 0.04 mm; length, 27.5 ± 0.5 mm; and width, 5.6 ± 0.3 mm. A negative correlation was found between length and width for the CFL (p < 0.001). Conclusions Routine MRI showed that most dimensions of the ATFL and CFL correlate with each other, which should be considered when planning new reconstruction techniques and developing a virtual biomechanical model of the human foot. Level of evidence III


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zong-chen Hou ◽  
Xin Miao ◽  
Ying-fang Ao ◽  
Yue-lin Hu ◽  
Chen Jiao ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Muscle strength training is a common strategy for treating chronic ankle instability (CAI), but the effectiveness decreases for mechanical ankle instability (MAI) patients with initial severe ligament injuries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics and the potential predictors of muscle strength deficit in MAI patients, with a view to proposing a more targeted muscle strength training strategy. Methods A total of 220 MAI patients with confirmed initial lateral ankle ligament rupture and a postinjury duration of more than 6 months were included. All patients underwent a Biodex isokinetic examination of the ankle joints of both the affected and unaffected sides. Then, the associations between the limb symmetry index (LSI) (mean peak torque of the injury side divided by that of the healthy side) and the patients’ sex, body mass index, postinjury duration, presence of intra-articular osteochondral lesions, presence of osteophytes and ligament injury pattern (i.e., isolated anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) injury or combined with calcaneofibular ligament injury) were analysed. Results There was significantly weaker muscle strength on the affected side than on the unaffected side in all directions (p < 0.05). The LSI in plantar flexion was significantly lower than that in dorsiflexion at 60°/s (0.87 vs 0.98, p < 0.001). A lower LSI in eversion was significantly correlated with female sex (0.82 vs 0.94, p = 0.016) and isolated ATFL injury (0.86 vs 0.95, p = 0.012). No other factors were found to be associated with muscle strength deficits. Conclusion MAI patients showed significant muscle strength deficits on the affected side, especially in plantar flexion. There were greater strength deficits in eversion in females and individuals with an isolated ATFL injury. Thus, a muscle strength training programme for MAI patients was proposed that focused more on plantar flexion training and eversion training for females and those with an isolated ATFL injury.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paweł Szaro ◽  
Khaldun Ghali Gataa ◽  
Mateusz Polaczek ◽  
Bogdan Ciszek

AbstractThe anterior talofibular ligament and the calcaneofibular ligament are the most commonly injured ankle ligaments. This study aimed to investigate if the double fascicular anterior talofibular ligament and the calcaneofibular ligament are associated with the presence of interconnections between those two ligaments and connections with non-ligamentous structures. A retrospective re-evaluation of 198 magnetic resonance imaging examinations of the ankle joint was conducted. The correlation between the double fascicular anterior talofibular ligament and calcaneofibular ligament and connections with the superior peroneal retinaculum, the peroneal tendon sheath, the tibiofibular ligaments, and the inferior extensor retinaculum was studied. The relationships between the anterior talofibular ligament’s and the calcaneofibular ligament’s diameters with the presence of connections were investigated. Most of the connections were visible in a group of double fascicular ligaments. Most often, one was between the anterior talofibular ligament and calcaneofibular ligament (74.7%). Statistically significant differences between groups of single and double fascicular ligaments were visible in groups of connections between the anterior talofibular ligament and the peroneal tendon sheath (p < 0.001) as well as the calcaneofibular ligament and the posterior tibiofibular ligament (p < 0.05), superior peroneal retinaculum (p < 0.001), and peroneal tendon sheath (p < 0.001). Differences between the thickness of the anterior talofibular ligament and the calcaneofibular ligament (p < 0.001), the diameter of the fibular insertion of the anterior talofibular ligament (p < 0.001), the diameter of calcaneal attachment of the calcaneofibular ligament (p < 0.05), and tibiocalcaneal angle (p < 0.01) were statistically significant. The presence of the double fascicular anterior talofibular ligament and the calcaneofibular ligament fascicles correlate with connections to adjacent structures.


Foot & Ankle ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Renstrom ◽  
M. Wertz ◽  
S. Incavo ◽  
M. Pope ◽  
H.C. Ostgaard ◽  
...  

Strain was measured in the normal anterior talofibular ligament (ATF) and the calcaneofibular ligament (CF) using Hall effect strain transducers in five cadaveric ankles. These measurements were made in both ligaments with the ankle in neutral position and with the foot moving from 10° dorsiflexion to 40° plantarflexion in an apparatus that permits physiologic motion. The ankle ligaments were then tested with the foot placed in six different positions that combined supination, pronation, external rotation, and internal rotation. In the neutral position, through a range of motion of 10° dorsiflexion to 40° plantarflexion, the anterior talofibular ligament underwent an increasing strain of 3.3%. No significant strain increase was found with internal rotation. The only significant difference from the strains at the neutral position was in external rotation, which decreased strain 1.9%. In all positions, increased strain occurred with increased plantarflexion. The calcaneofibular ligament was essentially isometric in the neutral position throughout the flexion arc. The calcaneofibular ligament strain was significantly increased by supination and external rotation. However, with increasing plantarflexion in these positions, the strain in the calcaneofibular ligament decreased. Therefore, plantarflexion has a relaxing effect on the calcaneofibular ligament. Thus, the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments are synergistic, such that when one ligament is relaxed, the other is strained and vice versa.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ankur Singh ◽  
Peter Gföller ◽  
Patryk Ulicki

Introduction: Fractures of tarsal navicular bone are a rare injury. A navicular fracture can occur either in isolation or associated with other bony or ligamentous injuries, depending on the severity and mechanism of trauma at the time of impact. We report a previously undescribed injury combination of navicular fracture with tear of the lateral ankle ligament complex. Case Report: An 18-year-old professional long jump athlete presented with a history of twisting injury immediately before taking off, while attempting a jump. A detailed clinical examination and radiological assessment with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan were performed. She was diagnosed to have a navicular body fracture with complete rupture of anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) and calcaneofibular ligament (CFL). Acute fixation of navicular body fracture along with primary repair of ATFL and CFL was done. The final outcome of the patient was good with return to unrestricted physical activities after 4 months. Conclusion: A new injury combination of navicular fracture along with lateral ankle ligament complex tear is reported in a professional athlete. A high index of clinical suspicion and early detection using CT and MRI scan can identify this rare injury combination. Surgical treatment can result in favorable outcomes. Keywords: Tarsal navicular bone, fracture, anterior talofibular ligament, calcaneofibular ligament, computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging scan.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document