[Ultrasonic assessment of the ankle joint in supination trauma]

Comparing 20 healthy subjects to 31 injured patients in this study it is demonstrated that ultrasound examination appears to be a reliable tool in the diagnosis of ligamentous inversion force injuries of the ankle. The ultrasound diagnosis was confirmed by conventional standard and on the tension X-Rays. When lateral collateral ligaments were ruptured mean differences of 2.3 mm for the anterior talofibular ligament and 5.5 mm for the calcaneofibular ligament, respectively were obtained between X-Rays in standard and on the tension position. In comparison, the values in the control group (no ankle injury) were 1.4 mm and 2.2 mm respectively. The results shown in this study are mainly in keeping with the present literature.