Magnetic resonance imaging of the normal and injured lateral collateral ligaments of the ankle

Background and Aims: To study the role of MR Imaging in evaluating both normal and injured lateral collateral ligaments of the ankle. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four patients with clinically diagnosed inversion injury to the ankle and 20 healthy volunteers underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the ankle with special emphasis on the lateral complex ligaments. Results: The anterior talofibular (ATFL) and posterior talofibular ligaments (PTFL) were identified in 100 % of the ankles of normal volunteers in the axial plane. The PTFL was identified in 100 % in the coronal plane. The calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) was identified in 76 % of the ankles in the axial, 84 % in the coronal and 88 % in the sagittal plane. Of the 24 patients with inversion injury, MRI showed ligament abnormalities in 16 patients, ten of these were isolated ATFL tears, five had combined ATFL and CFL tears and one case showed in addition abnormal signal in the PTFL. MRI revealed associated injuries to other ligaments and other soft tissue and osseous structures of the ankle in twelve patients. Conclusion: MRI is a non-invasive, accurate technique for evaluation of the normal and injured lateral collateral ligaments of the ankle.