Morphologic evaluation of injured and contralateral uninjured ankles in patients with unilateral chronic ankle...

To compare the morphological anatomy and abnormalities of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) and calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) in unilateral chronic ankle instability (CAI).

22 patients (men: women, 13:9; mean age, 28.95 ± 8.127 years) with unilateral CAI and 18 healthy volunteers (men: women, 9:9, mean age, 28.33 ± 3.678 years) were recruited. MRI scans were divided into Group 1 (22 injured ankles), Group 2 (22 contralateral uninjured ankles), and Group 3 (36 healthy volunteer ankles). The morphologic variables, MRI signal intensity (SI) values were evaluated.

The ATFL proximal, intermediate, and distal sites and the CFL proximal and distal sites in Group 3 were narrower than those in Group 1 (P ＜0.05). Both ATFL and CFL in Group 1 were thicker than those in Group 3 (P ＜0.01). The proximal and intermediate sites of the ATFL and the proximal site of the CFL in Group 3 were narrower than those in Group 2 (P ＜0.01). The intermediate site of the ATFL and the proximal and distal sites of the CFL in Group 2 were thicker than those in Group 3 (P ＜0.01). The mean SI values of the ATFL in Group 1 were higher than those in Groups 2 and 3 (P ＜0.01). The ATFL and CFL SI values were higher in Group 2 than those in Group 3 (P ＜0.05).

Both the injured and contralateral uninjured ankles had wider ATFL and CFL, more thickness, and higher SI values compared with those of healthy volunteer ankles.

High-resolution three-dimensional MRI provides a potential tool assisting clinical decision on the treatment and rehabilitation therapy of patients with unilateral CAI.