Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Accessory anterolateral talar facet: analysis of the morphologic features on MRI

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To analyze the morphologic features of accessory anterolateral talar facet (AALTF) on MRI that can assist in detecting this entity, identify any associated structural changes and also define its MRI prevalence.

Methods

Two radiologists retrospectively evaluated 140 ankle MRI scans for the presence of AALTF, complimentary anterior calcaneal extension facet and angle of Gissane measurement. One observer evaluated the scans for other structural details including AALTF length, cartilage thickness, bone marrow edema, hind foot coalition and talar beaking.

Results

There was a good inter-observer agreement for the detection of AALTF on MRI (Kappa = 0.64). AALTF was present in 33 out of 140 (23.6%) scans. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of AALTF between male and female subjects (P = 0.71). No significant difference in age between those with and those without AALTF (P = 0.96). Angle of Gissane was significantly smaller in ankles with AALTF (P = 0.0367, observer 1 and 0.0003, observer 2). AALTF had a mean length of 7 mm and was covered with cartilage in 25/33 (75.8%) with mean cartilage thickness of 1.4 mm. Complimentary cartilage covered anterior calcaneal facet was demonstrated in 10/33 (30.3%) and had a mean cartilage thickness of 2.5 mm. Talar beaking was more prevalent in ankles with AALTF showing an anterior calcaneal extension facet than those without the latter feature (P = 0.02).

Conclusion

AALTF is a frequently observed feature on ankle MRI, with good inter-observer reliability for its detection. When present, it is often opposed by a cartilage covered anterior calcaneal extension facet, which can be associated with talar beaking.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aydingoz U, Melih Topcuoglu O, Gormez A, Cankurtaran T, Dilara Topcuoglu E, Bilge Ergen F (2016) Accessory anterolateral talar facet in populations with and without symptoms: prevalence and relevant associated ankle MRI findings. AJR Am J Roentgenol 207:846–851

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Cowell HR (1972) Talocalcaneal coalition and new causes of peroneal spastic flatfoot. Clin Orthop Relat Res 85:16–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Gatlin CC, Matheny LM, Ho CP, Johnson NS, Clanton TO (2015) Diagnostic accuracy of 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging for the detection of articular cartilage lesions of the talus. Foot Ankle Int 36:288–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Hattori K, Sakuma E, Nakayama M, Kozaki A, Wada I, Otsuka T (2015) An anatomic study of the accessory anterolateral talar facet. Folia Morphol (Warsz) 74:61–64

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Jibri Z, Foster R, Rakhra K (2017) Chronic progressive ankle pain. Skeletal Radiol 46:719–720

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Joshy S, Abdulkadir U, Chaganti S, Sullivan B, Hariharan K (2010) Accuracy of MRI scan in the diagnosis of ligamentous and chondral pathology in the ankle. Foot Ankle Surg 16:78–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Jung MH, Choi BY, Lee JY, Han CS, Lee JS, Yang YC et al (2015) Types of subtalar joint facets. Surg Radiol Anat 37:629–638

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Kurashige T (2017) Accessory anterolateral talar facet impingement with tibialis spastic varus foot. SAGE Open Med Case Rep 5:2050313x17745210

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Linklater J, Hayter CL, Vu D, Tse K (2009) Anatomy of the subtalar joint and imaging of talo-calcaneal coalition. Skeletal Radiol 38:437–449

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Martus JE, Femino JE, Caird MS, Hughes RE, Browne RH, Farley FA (2008) Accessory anterolateral facet of the pediatric talus. An anatomic study. J Bone Joint Surg Am 90:2452–2459

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Martus JE, Femino JE, Caird MS, Kuhns LR, Craig CL, Farley FA (2008) Accessory anterolateral talar facet as an etiology of painful talocalcaneal impingement in the rigid flatfoot: a new diagnosis. Iowa Orthop J 28:1–8

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Neumann JA, Mannava S, Gross CE, Wooster BM, Busch MT (2016) Arthroscopic debridement of pediatric accessory anterolateral talar facet causing impingement. Arthrosc Tech 5:e413–417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Niki H, Aoki H, Hirano T, Akiyama Y, Fujiya H (2015) Peroneal spastic flatfoot in adolescents with accessory talar facet impingement: a preliminary report. J Pediatr Orthop B 24:354–361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Niki H, Hirano T, Akiyama Y, Beppu M (2014) Accessory talar facet impingement in pathologic conditions of the peritalar region in adults. Foot Ankle Int 35:1006–1014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Resnick D (1984) Talar ridges, osteophytes, and beaks: a radiologic commentary. Radiology 151:329–332

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Sarrafian SKKA (2011) Osteology. In: Kelikian AS (ed) Sarrafian’s anatomy of the foot andankle: descriptive, topographic, functional. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia, pp 40–119

    Google Scholar 

  17. Sewell RB (1904) A study of the astragalus. J Anat Physiol 38:423–434

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Zaid Jibri, Ryan Foster & Kawan S. Rakhra

  2. Department of Medical Imaging, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada

    Zaid Jibri, Ryan Foster & Kawan S. Rakhra

  3. Division of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital–Civic Campus, 1053 Carling Avenue, Suite J129, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4E9, Canada

    Bradley Meulenkamp

Authors
  1. Zaid Jibri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ryan Foster
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bradley Meulenkamp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kawan S. Rakhra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

ZJ: protocol/project development, data collection and management, data analysis, manuscript writing/editing. RF: data collection. BM: manuscript writing/editing. KSR: data collection, manuscript writing/editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zaid Jibri.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jibri, Z., Foster, R., Meulenkamp, B. et al. Accessory anterolateral talar facet: analysis of the morphologic features on MRI. Surg Radiol Anat 42, 1145–1151 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-020-02435-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-020-02435-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation