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Deltoid ligament abnormalities in chronic lateral ankle instability
Julia R Crim1, Timothy C Beals, Florian Nickisch
1University of Utah, Radiology and Orthopaedics, 67 E Dorchester Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84103, USA. julia.crim@hsc.utah.edu
Foot & Ankle International
|November 22, 2011
Summary
Deltoid ligament injuries are common in patients with chronic lateral ankle instability. These injuries often occur alongside lateral collateral ligament tears, indicating a need for comprehensive assessment.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic surgery
- Sports medicine
- Radiology
Background:
- Chronic lateral ankle instability often involves lateral collateral ligaments.
- The prevalence of deltoid ligament abnormalities in this patient group is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of deltoid ligament abnormalities in patients with chronic lateral ankle instability undergoing surgical treatment.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of MRI and surgical reports for 47 ankles (46 patients) treated surgically for chronic ankle instability over 3 years.
- Inclusion criteria required surgical treatment for chronic ankle instability; patients with medial ankle pain were excluded.
Main Results:
- All patients had anterior talofibular ligament tears; 91% had calcaneofibular ligament injuries, and 49% had posterior talofibular ligament injuries.
- Deltoid ligament injuries were present in 72% of cases, including superficial (23%), deep (6%), or both (43%).
- MRI findings correlated well with surgical outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Deltoid ligament injuries are a frequent finding in patients undergoing surgical reconstruction for lateral ankle instability.
- These findings suggest that the deltoid ligament should be considered in the evaluation and treatment of chronic lateral ankle instability.
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