Regional brain atrophy in patients with chronic ankle instability: A voxel-based morphometry study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Orthopedics
• Radiology

Background:

• Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a common condition affecting joint function and proprioception.
• Understanding the underlying neuropathological mechanisms of CAI is crucial for developing effective treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate brain structural changes, specifically gray matter volume (GMV), in patients with CAI using voxel-based morphometry.
• To explore correlations between GMV alterations and clinical assessments of ankle instability, pain, and function.

Main Methods:

• Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to acquire data from 24 CAI patients and 34 healthy controls.
• Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was employed to compare GMV between groups, controlling for covariates.
• Clinical assessments included the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT), American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and visual analog scale (VAS).

Main Results:

• CAI patients exhibited reduced GMV in the right precentral, right postcentral, right parahippocampal, left thalamus, left parahippocampal, and left postcentral areas compared to controls.
• GMV in the right and left parahippocampal areas and left postcentral area positively correlated with disease duration.
• The left thalamus showed positive correlations with CAIT and FAAM scores, while parahippocampal GMV correlated with the AOFAS score.

Conclusions:

• Brain structural reorganization, indicated by altered GMV in sensorimotor and limbic regions, occurs in patients with CAI.
• These findings suggest neural plasticity and provide insights into the neuropathological mechanisms of chronic ankle instability.
• The observed correlations highlight the relationship between brain structure and functional deficits in CAI.