Posterior ankle labral changes at MRI: A preliminary study

The transverse ligament in the ankle joint has been described as a labrum-like structure in a previous cadaveric study. The purpose of this study is to assess the spectrum of abnormal changes related to this structure on imaging/MRI, and correlate these findings with other ankle joint findings and patient symptoms.

A retrospective observational review of 172 ankle MRI scans was carried out independently by two fellowship trained musculoskeletal Radiologists. Correlation between abnormal labral changes, other ankle joint findings and patient symptomatology was performed.

Abnormal labral changes were seen in 26% of the MRI scans (n = 44/172) and included signal change, contour abnormality with heterogeneous signal change, linear fluid filled clefts, multidirectional fluid filled clefts, and a macerated labrum. There was a statistically significant association between abnormal labral changes and the presence of Stieda process/os trigonum (P = 0.001), talocrural joint osteoarthritis (P = 0.0003), paralabral cysts (P = 0.0001), imaging features of posterior impingement (P = 0.01), and both medial (P = 0.005) and lateral (P = 0.01) ankle ligament injuries. However, there was no statistically significant association between abnormal labral changes and patient symptoms.

The posterior ankle labrum can develop a spectrum of abnormal MRI appearances in patients with other ankle joint abnormalities. Although this study showed no correlation between patients' symptoms and posterior ankle labral changes, larger studies are needed to examine the biomechanical alterations that may arise from these labral changes.