Talar shift. The stabilizing role of the medial, lateral, and posterior ankle structures

An effort was made to evaluate the importance of the supporting medial, lateral, and posterior ankle structures in preventing talar shift. A series of fresh autopsy specimen ankles were subjected to manual mediolateral and anteroposterior stressing of the talus as intact specimens and after deletion of credited stabilizing structures. The fibula and attached ligaments were major factors in preventing talar shift, both mediolaterally and anteriorly. The lateral supporting structures were also noted to securely stabilize the talus against posterior subluxation in the absence of the posterior and medial malleoli.