Abstract
Purpose
An anatomical study was performed to assess the feasibility of arthroscopic visualization of the lateral ligaments of the ankle.
Methods
The fibular, talar and calcanear insertions of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) and calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) were identified by standard arthroscopy portals. After dissection of the ATFL and CFL, bone tunnels were created at the estimated centres of their footprints. Dissection was then performed to identify the footprints and their position in relation to bony landmarks. The distance from the real centre of the footprint to the corresponding tunnel entrance was measured.
Results
Fourteen fresh frozen ankles were included. The ATFL and CFL were identified in all cases. The centre of the fibular ATFL footprint was found to be 16.1 ± 3.5 mm from the tip of the fibula, and the talar footprint was 18.4 ± 2.8 mm from the apex of the lateral talar process. The centre of the fibular CFL footprint was 4.2 ± 0.8 mm from the tip of the fibula, and the calcaneal footprint was 18.4 ± 2.5 mm from the fibular process of the calcaneum. The fibular tunnel was 2.9 ± 3 mm proximally from the centre of the ATFL fibular footprint, the talar tunnel was 4.4 ± 3.2 mm proximally from the centre of the talar footprint, and the calcaneal tunnel was 3.3 ± 2.8 mm too anterior from the CFL calcaneal footprint. No iatrogenic lesions were noted.
Conclusion
Arthroscopic identification of the ATFL, CFL and their corresponding footprints can be considered safe and reliable. Tunnels entrances, in preparation for arthroscopic ligament reconstruction, are precisely positioned. Arthroscopic anatomical ligament reconstruction is a feasible option.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Burks RT, Morgan J (1994) Anatomy of the lateral ankle ligaments. Am J Sports Med 22:72–77
Clanton TO, Campbell KJ, Wilson KJ, Michalski MP, Goldsmith MT, Wijdicks CA, LaPrade RF (2014) Qualitative and quantitative anatomic investigation of the lateral ankle ligaments for surgical reconstruction procedures. J Bone Joint Surg Am 96:e98
Cottom JM, Rigby RB (2013) The “All Inside” arthroscopic Broström procedure: a prospective study of 40 consecutive patients. J Foot Ankle Surg 52:568–574
Freeman MAR (1965) Treatment of ruptures of the lateral ligament of the ankle. J Bone Joint Surg Br 47:661–668
Golanó P, Vega J, de Leeuw PAJ, Malagelada F, Manzanares MC, Götzens V, van Dijk CN (2010) Anatomy of the ankle ligaments: a pictorial essay. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 18:557–569
Guillo S, Bauer T, Lee JW, Takao M, Kong SW, Stone JW, Mangone PG, Molloy A, Perera A, Pearce CJ, Michels F, Tourné Y, Ghorbani A, Calder J (2013) Consensus in chronic ankle instability: aetiology, assessment, surgical indications and place for arthroscopy. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res 99:S411–S419
Hertel J (2002) Functional anatomy, pathomechanics, and pathophysiology of lateral ankle instability. J Athl Train 37:364–375
Hiller CE, Kilbreath SL, Refshauge KM (2011) Chronic ankle instability: evolution of the model. J Athl Train 46:133–141
Khawaji B, Soames R (2015) The anterior talofibular ligament: a detailed morphological study. Foot (Edinb) 25:141–147
Krips R, van Dijk CN, Lehtonen H, Halasi T, Moyen B, Karlsson J (2002) Sports activity level after surgical treatment for chronic anterolateral ankle instability. A multicenter study. Am J Sports Med 30:13–19
Nery C, Raduan F, Del Buono A, Asaumi ID, Cohen M, Maffulli N (2011) Arthroscopic-assisted Brostrom-Gould for chronic ankle instability: a long-term follow-up. Am J Sports Med 39:2381–2388
Neuschwander TB, Indresano AA, Hughes TH, Smith BW (2013) Footprint of the lateral ligament complex of the ankle. Foot Ankle Int 34:582–586
Takao M, Innami K, Matsushita T, Uchio Y, Ochi M (2008) Arthroscopic and magnetic resonance image appearance and reconstruction of the anterior talofibular ligament in cases of apparent functional ankle instability. Am J Sports Med 36:1542–1547
Tropp H, Odenrick P, Gillquist J (1985) Stabilometry recordings in functional and mechanical instability of the ankle joint. Int J Sports Med 6:180–182
Wenny R, Duscher D, Meytap E, Weninger P, Hirtler L (2015) Dimensions and attachments of the ankle ligaments: evaluation for ligament reconstruction. Anat Sci Int 90:161–171
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank sincerely Mr. Jean Thès for his drawings.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Thès, A., Klouche, S., Ferrand, M. et al. Assessment of the feasibility of arthroscopic visualization of the lateral ligament of the ankle: a cadaveric study. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 24, 985–990 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-015-3804-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-015-3804-4