MRI of trauma to the foot and ankle

Traumatic injuries involving the foot and ankle are very common. With the advent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and its unsurpassed ability for soft tissue characterization, its utility in the investigation of these patients with foot and ankle trauma has rapidly expanded over the last decade. MRI has the unique capability to evaluate osseous, ligamentous, tendinous, and muscular injuries about the foot and ankle, with a single imaging study. MRI also allows for characterization of injury based on known biomechanical patterns. Injuries to specific soft tissue structures such as the Lisfranc and Spring ligaments can be accurately assessed on MRI when the imager considers both direct and indirect or supportive findings, allowing appropriate therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation.     

Ankle injuries in basketball: injury rate and risk factors

OBJECTIVES: To determine the rate of ankle injury and examine risk factors of ankle injuries in mainly recreational basketball players. METHODS: Injury observers sat courtside to determine the occurrence of ankle injuries in basketball. Ankle injured players and a group of non-injured basketball players completed a questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 10 393 basketball participations were observed and 40 ankle injuries documented. A group of non-injured players formed the control group (n = 360). The rate of ankle injury was 3.85 per 1000 participations, with almost half (45.9%) missing one week or more of competition and the most common mechanism being landing (45%). Over half (56.8%) of the ankle injured basketball players did not seek professional treatment. Three risk factors for ankle injury were identified: (1) players with a history of ankle injury were almost five times more likely to sustain an ankle injury (odds ratio (OR) 4.94, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.95 to 12.48); (2) players wearing shoes with air cells in the heel were 4.3 times more likely to injure an ankle than those wearing shoes without air cells (OR 4.34, 95% CI 1.51 to 12.40); (3) players who did not stretch before the game were 2.6 times more likely to injure an ankle than players who did (OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.01 to 6.34). There was also a trend toward ankle tape decreasing the risk of ankle injury in players with a history of ankle injury (p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Ankle injuries occurred at a rate of 3.85 per 1000 participations. The three identified risk factors, and landing, should all be considered when preventive strategies for ankle injuries in basketball are being formulated.     

Overuse of concomitant foot radiographic series in patients sustaining minor ankle injuries

Radiographic series of the foot are often obtained in conjunction with ankle X-rays when the clinical presentation is limited to trauma to the ankle. The Ottawa Ankle and Foot Rules were established in 1992 and serve as reliable guidelines to determine when an ankle or foot series is warranted in patients who have sustained minor ankle and/or foot injury. We retrospectively reviewed radiographic studies of all patients over a period of 18 months who simultaneously had ankle and foot plain radiographs performed for acute complaints limited to the ankle alone. Of the 243 patients who met our inclusion criteria, 55 patients had fractures, 46 in or near the ankle joint, and nine which were located at the base of the fifth metatarsal bone. No fractures or dislocations were noted elsewhere in the foot. All of the fifth metatarsal fractures were evident on adequately performed ankle series. Our findings suggest that films of the foot are not necessary when trauma is limited to the ankle and when an appropriately performed ankle series has been completed.     

Reduced ankle dorsiflexion range may increase the risk of patellar tendon injury among volleyball players.

Patellar tendon injury, a chronic overuse injury characterised by pain during tendon loading, is common in volleyball players and may profoundly restrict their ability to compete. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between performance factors and the presence of patellar tendon injury. These performance factors (sit and reach flexibility, ankle dorsiflexion range, jump height, ankle plantarflexor strength, years of volleyball competition and activity level) were measured in 113 male and female volleyball players. Patellar tendon health was determined by measures of pain and ultrasound imaging. The association between these performance factors and patellar tendon health (normal tendon, abnormal imaging without pain, abnormal imaging with pain) was investigated using analysis of variance. Only reduced ankle dorsiflexion range was associated with patellar tendinopathy (p<0.05). As coupling between ankle dorsiflexion and eccentric contraction of the calf muscle is important in absorbing lower limb force when landing from a jump, reduced ankle dorsiflexion range may increase the risk of patellar tendinopathy.     

Malleolar fractures in athletes

Ankle injuries occur frequently in the athlete. The incidence of ankle fractures has been estimated to be 250,000 per year in the United States; therefore, it is one of the most common fractures treated by the orthopedic surgeon. The usual mechanism of injury is supination-eversion, making up 42% to 72% of ankle fractures. With displaced fractures, anatomic reduction of the joint and rigid internal fixation are crucial for proper healing and returning to sports activities.     

Prevention of ankle sprains

Two different methods for the prevention of ankle joint injuries in soccer were tested. Coordination training on an ankle disk improves functional stability and postural control, whereas an orthosis provides mechanical support. Both techniques reduce the frequency of ankle sprains in soccer players with previous ankle problems. The orthosis is an alternative to taping, and can be used during the rehabilitation period after injury or when playing on uneven ground. Coordination training on an ankle disk ought to be included in the rehabilitation of ankle injuries to prevent functional instability. It may also be done prophylactically by players with previous ankle problems in order to break the vicious circle of recurrent sprains and feeling of giving way.     

Mechanisms of foot and ankle injuries in soccer

BACKGROUND: Although player-to-player contact is a risk factor in the majority of soccer injuries, the mechanisms leading to these injuries have not been analyzed. PURPOSE: To assess the relationships between foot/ankle injuries and foul play and tackle type, and to identify the position of the foot and ankle at the time of injury. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: Team physicians prospectively recorded each injury in four world soccer competitions, and the videotaped incident leading to the injury was retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Of 76 foot and ankle injuries (52 contusions, 20 sprains, 4 fractures), direct contact occurred between players in 72. Significantly more injuries involved a tackle from the side and a lateral or medial tackle force. The injured limb was weightbearing in 41 and nonweightbearing in 35 of the incidents. Significantly more injuries resulted in time lost from soccer when the limb was weightbearing. The most common foot and ankle positions at the time of injury were pronated/neutral in the sagittal plane for weightbearing limbs, and plantar flexed/neutral in the coronal plane for nonweightbearing limbs. The most common foot and ankle rotations at the time of injury were external (23) and eversion (28). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of injuries were caused by tackles involving lateral or medial forces that created a corresponding eversion or inversion rotation of the foot or ankle. The weightbearing status of the injured limb was a significant risk factor.     

The placebo effect of ankle taping in ankle instability

PURPOSE: Recurrence of ankle sprains is common among athletes. Although ankle taping reduces the risk of injury, the mechanism underlying its effectiveness remains unclear. Anecdotal reports suggest a role of the belief among athletes that taping will protect them from injury. That is, taping may have a placebo effect. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether there was a placebo effect with ankle taping in individuals with ankle instability. METHODS: Thirty participants with ankle instability completed a hopping test and a modified star excursion balance test under three conditions: (i) real tape, (ii) placebo tape, and (iii) control (no tape). Participants were blinded to the purpose of the study and were informed that the study aimed to compare two methods of ankle taping referred to as mechanical (real) and proprioceptive (placebo). The order of testing the three conditions and the two functional tests was randomized. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in performance among the three conditions for the hopping test (P = 0.865) or the modified star excursion balance test (P = 0.491). However, a secondary exploratory analysis revealed that participants' perceptions of stability, confidence, and reassurance increased with both real and placebo ankle taping when performing the functional tasks. CONCLUSION: The role of the placebo effect of ankle taping in individuals with ankle instability remains unclear. Clinicians should, therefore, continue to use ankle-taping techniques of known efficacy. They should, however, focus on maximizing patients' beliefs in the efficacy of ankle taping, because its application reassured participants and improved their perceived stability and confidence. The effect of ankle taping on participants' perceptions may contribute to its effectiveness in preventing injury.     

A systematic review on ankle injury and ankle sprain in sports

This article systematically reviews epidemiological studies on sports injury from 1977 to 2005 in which ankle injury was included. A total of 227 studies reporting injury pattern in 70 sports from 38 countries were included. A total of 201,600 patients were included, with 32,509 ankle injuries. Ankle injury information was available from 14,098 patients, with 11 847 ankle sprains. Results show that the ankle was the most common injured body site in 24 of 70 included sports, especially in aeroball, wall climbing, indoor volleyball, mountaineering, netball and field events in track and field. Ankle sprain was the major ankle injury in 33 of 43 sports, especially in Australian football, field hockey, handball, orienteering, scooter and squash. In sports injuries throughout the countries studied, the ankle was the second most common injured body site after the knee, and ankle sprain was the most common type of ankle injury. The incidence of ankle injury and ankle sprain was high in court games and team sports, such as rugby, soccer, volleyball, handball and basketball. This systematic review provides a summary of the epidemiology of ankle injury in sports.     

Validation of Ottawa ankle rules protocol in Greek athletes: study in the emergency departments of a district general hospital and a sports injuries clinic

OBJECTIVE: To validate the Ottawa ankle rules protocol for predicting ankle and midfoot fractures in Greek athletes. METHOD: A prospective survey in the emergency departments of a district general hospital and a sports injury clinic in Greece over nine months. A clinical evaluation was made of 122 patients with acute ankle and/or midfoot injury, and then radiographs were taken. RESULTS: Nine ankle and eight midfoot fractures were detected. The sensitivity of the Ottawa ankle rules protocol in predicting fractures in both the malleolar and midfoot zones was 100%. The negative predictive value for each of these areas was also 1.0. Specificity was estimated to be 0.3 for ankle fractures and 0.4 for midfoot fractures. Positive predictive values were 0.16 and 0.28 respectively. A possible reduction of up to 28.7% was found in the need for radiography. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the Ottawa ankle rules protocol in evaluating injured Greek athletes resulted in 100% sensitivity when performed by orthopaedic residents or sports medicine doctors, and had the potential to reduce the use of radiography.     

Retrospective comparison of taping and ankle stabilizers in preventing ankle injuries

The effectiveness of taping and the effectiveness of wearing a laced stabilizer in preventing ankle injuries and reinjuries over six seasons of collegiate football practices and games were assessed retrospectively. For 1 1/2 years the players all had taped ankles, and for the remaining 4 1/2 years the players chose their type of ankle support. Over the entire period, the players chose high-top or low-top shoes as preferred. During 51,931 exposures to injury (46,789 practice-exposures and 5,142 game-exposures), the 297 players sustained 224 ankle injuries and 24 reinjuries. Tape was worn during 38,658 exposures to injury (233 players), stabilizers during 13,273 exposures (127 players). Tape had been worn when 159 of the injuries and 23 of the reinjuries occurred; a stabilizer had been worn when 37 of the injuries (P = 0.003) and one of the reinjuries occurred. The combination allowing the fewest injuries overall was low-top shoes and laced ankle stabilizers.     

Magnetic resonance imaging findings of chronic lateral ankle instability

The ankle inversion injury is one of the most common types of injury that is encountered in athletes and active individuals. There are a wide variety of acute injuries associated with ankle inversion, including peroneal tendon tears, osteochondritis dessicans of the talus, anterior talofibular ligament avulsion, peroneal retinaculum avulsion, and calcaneofibular ligament tears. Chronic sequelae include impingement, posttraumatic degenerative arthritis, and an attenuated peroneal retinaculum. Most inversion injuries to the ankle have multiple associated injuries and isolated ligament injuries are uncommon. Chronically, the injured ankle usually demonstrates the injuries found at the time of the initial injury. Subsequently, there is a high frequency of these injuries in patients evaluated for symptoms of chronic lateral ankle instability. A high index of suspicion for the specific types of injuries associated with ankle inversions may result in a higher rate of injury detection and more expeditious and accurate diagnoses. Given the persistence of these injuries seen in patients with chronic posterolateral instability, injury patterns of ankle inversion are important to recognize even in the absence of acute trauma. We review the various types of injuries with their associated magnetic resonance (MR) imaging characteristics seen in patients with chronic lateral ankle instability.     

Stabilometry in functional instability of the ankle and its value in predicting injury

Stabilometry is an objective method used for studying postural equilibrium quantitatively. Stabilometric recordings were made in 127 soccer players to demonstrate functional instability of the ankle joint. The presence of previous ankle joint injuries, i.e., sprains or fractures, was documented. Reference values for stabilometry were obtained from a group of 30 normally-active non-soccer players without a history of injury to the ankle joint. A pathological stabilometric value was defined as one exceeding the mean value of the reference group by 2 SD. In players with a history of previous ankle joint injury no increased postural sway was found. On the other hand, players showing abnormal stabilometric values ran a significantly (P less than 0.001) higher risk of sustaining an ankle injury during the following season compared to players with normal values. Players with a history of previous ankle joint injury did not run a higher risk compared to players without previous injury. The findings indicate that an ankle joint injury did not result in a persistent functional instability; however, such instability did increase the risk of ankle joint injury.     

Fracture and posterior dislocation of the os peroneum associated with rupture of the peroneus longus tendon

Subcutaneous rupture of the peroneus longus tendon occurring through a fracture of the os peroneum (OP) or secondary to posterior dislocation of this uncommon sesamoid bone is rare. The authors report three incidents of this injury, which presented either as fracture of the OP with diastasis of the fragments or as posterior dislocation of the whole OP without fracture. In all cases conservative treatment yielded satisfactory results. It is emphasized that, in all cases of ankle injury, radiologists should carefully examine the plain radiographs because most OP injuries are not seen in images obtained at the time of injury and are discovered retrospectively when the fragments separate. Not treating the problem at an early stage may lead to instability of the ankle or to peroneal compartment syndrome.     

不同跖屈角度对踝三角韧带损伤X线诊断的影响

目的 评估踝关节不同跖屈角度对踝三角韧带损伤X线诊断的影响,提高踝三角韧带损伤诊断的准确率.方法 自2010年2月至2010年12月收治踝关节旋后-外旋型骨折患者24例,均为腓骨远端骨折但无内踝骨折.所有患者外翻应力下分别取中立位0°、跖屈位15°、30°、45°拍摄踝穴位X线片,并行患侧踝关节MRI检查.对不同跖屈角度下四组患者X线片内侧踝穴宽度(medial clear space,MCS)及胫距上关节宽度(superior clear space,SCS)进行测量.测量结果采用单因素方差分析LSD-t检验,分别以(1)MCS≥4 mm,且MCS＞ SCS,(2)MCS≥5 mm,且MCS＞ SCS作为踝三角韧带损伤X线诊断的标准,踝关节MRI检查结果作为诊断“金标准”,进行诊断性试验研究.结果 外翻应力下踝关节中立位0°、跖屈位15°、30°、45°时,MCS测量结果分别为(4.10±0.79)mm、(4.55±0.72)mm、(4.99±0.56)mm、(5.71 +0.86)mm,组间比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);SCS测量结果分别为(3.56±0.41)mm、(3.50±0.43)mm、(3.71±0.44)mm、(3.93±0.51)mm,组间比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05);以MCS≥4 mm,且MCS＞SCS作为诊断标准时,中立位0°、跖屈位15°、30°、45°时,出现假阳性率分别为50.0％、66.7％、88.9％、94.4％.以MCS≥5 mm,且MCS＞ SCS作为诊断标准时,中立位0°、跖屈位15°、30°、45°时,出现假阳性率分别为5.6％、11.1％、38.9％、77.8％.结论 不同跖屈角度是影响踝三角韧带损伤X线诊断的重要因素,随着踝关节跖屈角度增加,踝三角韧带损伤X线诊断的假阳性率亦随之升高.     

Anterior process fractures of the calcaneus

Fractures of the anterior process of the calcaneus are often missed. This error follows from the tendency to focus exclusively on the mortise and malleoli when a history of ankle trauma is supplied. Seven patients with this fracture are presented. The anatomy, mechanism of injury, clinical presentation, and the radiographic features of this injury are discussed.     

踝关节内侧韧带损伤及其病理机制初探

目的 探讨踝关节内韧带损伤后内侧不稳定的病理机制.方法 患者15例,男8例,女7例;年龄22～58岁,平均40岁.其中踝关节急性扭伤患者2例,踝关节慢性损伤3例,先天性平足3例,胫后肌腱失能5例,旋前外旋骨折1例,陈旧性的内踝撕脱骨折1例.所有患者均行三角韧带修补术,同时行跟骨延长术8例,内侧楔骨闭合截骨5例,跟骨截骨内移术1例.全部患者术后随访7～56个月,运用美国足踝外科协会(America Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society,AOFAS)踝-后足功能评分进行评估,统计学分析采用t检验.结果 1例踝关节急性骨折患者,由于术前无法评分,不放在统计分析内.其余14例患者术前评分为(42.4±10.6)分,术后评分(89.8±6.2)分(P＜0.05).结论 三角韧带是一个重要的解剖结构,在以下几种情况下须注意其修复:(1)三角韧带损伤范围较广,涉及前部的胫弹簧韧带和胫舟韧带.(2)先天性的平足以及获得性的胫后肌腱失能患者.(3)以往有经常的踝关节扭伤,有外侧韧带的损伤,此次发生了伴有内侧韧带损伤的骨折.     

Study of aeroball injuries.

OBJECTIVE: To present the risks of aeroball, a new sport played by either two or four players on a trampoline court surrounded by specially constructed fabric walls, and to propose ways to increase awareness and reduce the incidence of injury, in particular, ankle injury. METHOD: A study was carried out to document the nature of aeroball related incidents, between 1991 and 1995, at Lancaster University Sports Centre. Lace-up ankle supports were introduced in April 1992, and their effect on the incidence of ankle injury was recorded. RESULTS: The lower limb received most injuries (90%), followed by the upper limb (6%), then the face (3%) and cervical spine (1%). The most common category of injuries was sprains (83%), followed by fractures (8%), contusions (5%), and dislocations (4%). The most common site of injury was the ankle (73%). It is during doubles play that injury is most likely to occur. Since the introduction of ankle supports, there has been a gradual decline in the incidence of ankle injury, 31 in 1991 to nine in 1995. CONCLUSION: Aeroball has become a popular sport, but it is not without risks. Leaflets have been produced to promote the objectives, rules, and safety of the game. Trained full-time staff should be present to explain the nature of the game. The use of prophylactic ankle stabilisers in aeroball is strongly recommended.     

Factors associated with anterior cruciate ligament injury: history in female athletes

AIM: Little is known about the association of lower extremity structural malalignments, flexibility patterns, generalized laxity, postural control, previous ankle sprain history and the increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in females. We hypothesized that females with a history of ACL injury would be more likely to have a history of prior ankle sprain and different structural alignments than females without a history of ACL injury. METHODS: It is a case control study: 33 young adult females with a history of an ACL injury and 33 controls with no history of knee injury provided their knee and ankle injury history and had 16 lower extremity measures taken. RESULTS: The factors most associated with ACL injury history were greater generalized laxity (r(2) change: 0.073), greater genu recurvatum (r(2) change: 0.069), and decreased iliotibial band (ITB) flexibility (r(2) change: 0.069). There was also a significant association between ACL injury history and previous ankle sprain injury history (chi squared=5.27; P=0.02). Those with a history of ACL injury were more likely to have had a prior ipsilateral ankle sprain. CONCLUSION: Increased generalized laxity, greater genu recurvatum, and decreased ITB flexibility discriminated between females with and without history of ACL injury. A relationship linking previous ankle injury and ACL injury risk was found. Taking a thorough medical history and screening for generalized laxity, genu recurvatum, and a tight ITB in those with a history of LAS, may help identify those at risk for an ACL injury and who may benefit most from preventive measures.