Clinical Relevance and Function of Anterior Talofibular Ligament Superior and Inferior Fascicles: A Robotic Study

Ankle lateral ligament sprains are common injuries in sports, and some may result in persistent ankle pain and a feeling of instability without clinical evidence of instability. The anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) has 2 distinct fascicles, and recent publications have suggested that injury isolated to the superior fascicle might be the cause of these chronic symptoms. This study aimed to identify the biomechanical properties conferred by the fascicles in stabilizing the ankle in order to understand potential clinical problems that may follow when the fascicles are injured.

The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of superior and inferior fascicles of the ATFL in restraining anteroposterior tibiotalar resistance, internal external tibial rotation resistance, and inversion eversion talar rotation resistance. It was hypothesized that an isolated injury of the ATFL superior fascicle would have a measurable effect on ankle stability and that the superior and inferior fascicles would restrain different motions of the ankle.

Descriptive laboratory study.

A robotic system with 6 degrees of freedom was used to test ankle instability in 10 cadavers. Serial sectioning following the most common injury pattern (from superior to inferior fascicles) was performed on the ATFL while the robot ensured reproducible movement through a physiological range of dorsiflexion and plantarflexion.

Sectioning of only the ATFL superior fascicle had a significant and measurable effect on ankle stability, resulting in increased internal rotation and anterior translation of the talus, especially in plantarflexion. Sectioning of the entire ATFL resulted in significantly decreased resistance in anterior translation, internal rotation, and inversion of the talus.

Rupture of only the superior fascicle of the ATFL may lead to minor instability or microinstability of the ankle joint, without objective clinical findings of gross clinical laxity.

Some patients develop chronic symptoms after an ankle sprain without overt signs of instability. This may be explained by an isolated injury to the ATFL superior fascicle, and diagnosis may require careful clinical evaluation and magnetic resonance imaging examination looking at the individual fascicles. It is possible that such patients may benefit from lateral ligament repair despite having no gross clinical instability.