Podiatry Blog

Investigation of the Lateral Ankle Ligaments for Surgical Reconstruction Procedures - San Mateo Podiatry Group

Written by Bill Metaxas | 7/2/14 1:24 PM

A recent study sought to quantify the origins and insertions of lateral ligaments related to surgically pertinent osseous landmarks in order to help surgeons who perform anatomic repair or ankle reconstruction to treat lateral ankle sprains. Researchers dissected 14 ankle specimens to isolate four lateral ligaments and then used a measuring device to determine the origins, insertions, footprint areas, orientations, and distances from osseous landmarks.

Single-banded anterior talofibular ligaments, which were seen in half of the specimens, originated an average of 13.8 mm from the inferior tip of the lateral malleolus at the anterior fibular border and were inserted an average of 17.8 mm superior to the apex of the lateral talar process along the anterior border of the talar lateral articular facet.

Researchers found that the calcaneofibular ligament originated an average of 5.3 mm from the inferior tip of the lateral malleolus at the anterior fibular border and were inserted an average of 16.3 mm from the peroneal tubercle’s posterior point.

As for the posterior talofibular ligament, it originated an average of 4.8 mm superior to the inferior tip of the lateral malleolus in the digital fossa and was inserted an average of 13.2 mm from the talar posterolateral tubercle.

Finally, researchers found that the cervical ligament originated at the superior point of the calcaneus and was inserted at a point located at roughly half of the talar neck anteroposterior distance.

From the article of the same title

Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (06/18/2014) Vol. 96, No. 12, P. E98 Clanton, Thomas O.; Campbell, Kevin J.; Wilson, Katharine J.; et al.

via This Week @ ACFAS.