Abstract
The present study was performed to investigate the morphological characteristics of
the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) and evaluate its relationship to the anterior talofibular
ligament (ATFL) in patients with lateral ankle ligament injury using 3-dimensional
magnetic resonance imaging (3D-MRI). This retrospective study involved 35 patients
with lateral ankle ligament injury and 24 patients without a history of ankle trauma
and a bone abnormality as controls. Reconstructed 3D-MRI was used to classify the
form of the CFL as curved, wavy, or straight. The presence/absence of continuity between
the fibula and CFL was evaluated in the 35 patients with injury, who were divided
into 2 groups (continuity and discontinuity groups). The number of fascicles in the ATFL and the continuity between the distal end of
the fibula and the proximal end of the ATFL were then evaluated. Among the patients
with injury, 54.3% had the curve type of CFL, 34.3% had the wave type, and 11.4% had
the straight type. In the control group, 62.5% had the curve type, 37.5% had the wave
type, and none had the straight type. Continuity between the fibula and CFL was seen
in 88.6%, and discontinuity was seen in 11.4%. Additionally, 85.7% had double fascicles
in the ATFL. Inferior fascicle discontinuity between the ATFL and fibula was found in 13.3% with a double-fascicle ATFL; in all
of these patients, the form of the CFL was straight and exhibited inferior fascicle discontinuity. The straight form of CFL could be a 3D-MRI sign in the diagnosis of CFL and ATFL
inferior fascicle injury.
Level of Clinical Evidence
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 08, 2021
Footnotes
Financial Disclosure: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Conflict of Interest: None reported.
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© 2021 by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. All rights reserved.
