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CT assessment of the prevalence of retinacular injuries associated with hindfoot fractures

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Abstract

Objective

To determine the incidence of injuries to the flexor and peroneal retinacula in hindfoot fractures as demonstrated on ankle computed tomography (CT).

Materials and methods

Study patients were identified via review of CT records at a single institution. CT scans were retrospectively reviewed and compared with surgical reports.

Results

Hindfoot fractures undergoing CT showed flexor retinacular injuries in 23.7% of cases and peroneal retinacular injuries in 10.2%. The posterior tibial tendon was partly torn in 4.2% of cases, and entrapped between fracture fragments in 16.1%. The peroneal tendon was rarely injured, being entrapped in 1.7% of cases. Pilon, distal tibial shaft, malleolar, talar, and calcaneal fractures were all associated with retinacular injuries. CT findings correlated well with surgical findings; there were no false-positive CT findings, and only 1 false-negative finding, a posterior tibial tendon that was entrapped at surgery, but in a normal position on the CT.

Conclusions

Retinacular injuries are commonly demonstrated on CT in patients with ankle fractures. The contribution of these injuries to fracture outcomes is unknown.

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Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA

    Julia Crim

  2. Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA

    Julia Crim

  3. Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3808, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    Michael Enslow & Joshua Smith

  4. Department of Radiology, University of Colorado, 1635 Aurora Court, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA

    Joshua Smith

Authors
  1. Julia Crim
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  2. Michael Enslow
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  3. Joshua Smith
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Correspondence to Julia Crim.

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Crim, J., Enslow, M. & Smith, J. CT assessment of the prevalence of retinacular injuries associated with hindfoot fractures. Skeletal Radiol 42, 487–492 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-012-1530-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-012-1530-2

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