Evaluation of tibiofibular motion under load conditions by computed tomography

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Biomechanics
• Radiology

Background:

• Assessing tibiofibular motion in vivo traditionally required invasive techniques.
• Understanding fibular movement is crucial for diagnosing and treating ankle pathologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel noninvasive method for evaluating in vivo tibiofibular motion using computed tomography (CT).
• To investigate the effects of ankle flexion and load on fibular kinematics.

Main Methods:

• A specialized device was engineered for use with CT to measure fibular motion under applied ankle load.
• Computed tomography (CT) scans were utilized to capture fibular displacement during simulated ankle movements.

Main Results:

• During dorsal to plantar flexion, the fibula exhibited medial displacement (1.1 +/- 0.4 mm) without significant changes under load.
• A subgroup, primarily females, showed dorsal fibular motion (0.7 +/- 0.8 mm) during plantar flexion, which was reduced by applied load.
• External talar rotation impeded normal fibular motion unless ankle load was applied.

Conclusions:

• The developed CT method offers a noninvasive approach to study tibiofibular kinematics.
• Fibular motion is influenced by ankle joint morphology, ligamentous structures, and applied load, particularly in cases of external talar rotation.
• This technique facilitates the investigation of injuries affecting the fibula and surrounding structures.