The Relationship Between Ankle Morphometric Analysis and Talus Osteochondral Lesion

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Radiology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Osteochondral lesions (OCL) of the ankle are a common cause of joint pain and dysfunction.
• Understanding the anatomical factors contributing to OCL is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between ankle joint morphometric parameters and the presence of osteochondral lesions.
• To identify potential morphometric risk factors for talus osteochondral lesions.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of magnetic resonance images (MRIs) from 127 patients with OCL and 124 controls.
• Morphometric measurements of the ankle joint, including fibula distal length (FDL), alpha (α) angle, and delta (δ) angle, were performed on coronal and sagittal MRIs.

Main Results:

• Fibula distal length (FDL) was significantly different between OCL and control groups in both males and females (P=0.04, P=0.01).
• Alpha (α) angle and delta (δ) angle measurements showed significant differences between groups in males (P=0.02, P=0.04).

Conclusions:

• Elevated FDL, alpha (α) angle, and delta (δ) angle measurements suggest these morphometric parameters may be potential risk factors for talus osteochondral lesions.
• These findings highlight the importance of ankle joint morphometry in the development of OCL.