Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - British Volume · 1996 · 246 citations · 15 references
Health ProfessionsOrthopaedic SurgeryOrthopedic SurgeryAnkle AnatomyAnkle PathologyOrthopedicsAnkle CartilageAnkle InjuriesAnkle Ligament InjuriesAnkle OrthopedicsAnkle SprainsCartilage InjuriesAnkle Joint SprainArticular Cartilage ErosionArticular Cartilage LossLateral Ankle Ligament ComplexLateral Ankle Ligament InjuryLateral Ankle SprainsMedial Ankle Sprain
After a severe ankle sprain the incidence of residual complaints, particularly on the medial side of the joint, is high. We studied a consecutive series of 30 patients who had operative repair of acute ruptures of lateral ligaments. During operation, arthroscopy revealed a fresh injury to the articular cartilage in 20 ankles, in 19 at the tip and/or anterior distal part of the medial malleolus as well as on the opposite medial facet of the talus. In six patients, a loose piece of articular cartilage was found. We conclude that in patients with a rupture of one or more of the lateral ankle ligaments after an inversion injury, an impingement occurs between the medial malleolus and the medial facet of the talus. Patients with a lesion of the lateral ankle ligament caused by a high-velocity injury (a faulty landing during jumping or running) had a higher incidence of macroscopic cartilage damage (p < 0.01), medially-located pressure pain (p = 0.06) and medially-located complaints at one-year follow-up (p = 0.02) than those with low-velocity injury (a stumble).
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