Management of syndesmotic injuries of the ankle

[摘要] The term syndesmotic injury is used to describe a lesion of the ligaments that connect the distal fibula and the tibial notch surrounded on both sides by the anterior and posterior tibial tubercles, with or without an associated injury of the deltoid ligament. It includes four major ligaments: the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL), which limits the fibular external rotation; the interosseous ligament (IOL), which limits the lateral translation of the fibula; the posterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (PITFL), which prevents the posterior fibular translation; and the inferior transverse ligament, which limits posterior talar displacement (Fig. 1).1 On the other hand, the deltoid ligament has the function of preventing talar abduction, pronation and external rotation. Syndesmotic lesions with associated damage of the deltoid ligament produce a still greater instability of the talus.2 This instability, if uncorrected, can lead to chronic instability that can finally develop into degenerative arthritis.

[学科分类] 神经科学

[关键词] syndesmosis injury;ankle;ligaments;diagnosis;imaging;management;operative technique