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Anatomical analysis of ligaments surrounding calcaneocuboid joint; implications for role in foot stability

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Abstract

Purpose

The calcaneocuboid joint is located in the lateral part of the foot and acts as a major stabilizer for the foot. Injuries to this joint often occur in association with ankle or foot injuries and are frequently overlooked, subsequently causing chronic pain or osteoarthritis. However, the relationship between ligaments surrounding the joint and joint instability remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the morphology and position of the ligaments surrounding the calcaneocuboid joint, and to reveal the relationship between the ligament structure.

Methods

The position and morphology of the bifurcate ligament (subdivided into calcaneonavicular and calcaneocuboid ligaments), dorsal calcaneocuboid ligament, lateral calcaneocuboid ligament, long plantar ligament, and short plantar ligament were measured (N = 11 feet in 6 Japanese cadavers). The circumference of the joint was quartered, while the ligament-uncovered area and the estimated cross-sectional area of each ligament were compared between the four sides. Furthermore, the estimated cross-sectional area of each ligament was calculated as an index for the ligament strength.

Results

The inferolateral side of the calcaneocuboid joint had the most uncovered area (54.63%) by the ligaments. In addition, the cross-sectional area of the ligaments on the lateral side was considerably smaller than that on the medial side.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that ligament weakness on the inferolateral side may cause instability of the calcaneocuboid joint, especially after an inversion sprain injury, and may decrease the lateral longitudinal arch function, which results in chronic foot pain.

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Funding

This study did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy, International University of Health and Welfare, 4-3 Kozunomori, Narita, Chiba, 286-8686, Japan

    Akino Aoki, Yukiko Makihara & Akihiro Tamura

  2. Department of Anatomy, International University of Health and Welfare School of Medicine, Narita, Chiba, Japan

    Takaya Ishii & Kyutaro Kawagishi

Authors
  1. Akino Aoki
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  2. Yukiko Makihara
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  3. Akihiro Tamura
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  4. Takaya Ishii
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  5. Kyutaro Kawagishi
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Contributions

AA: project development, data collection, manuscript writing. YM: data collection, manuscript writing. AT: data collection. TI: data management, Manuscript writing. KK: project development, manuscript writing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Akino Aoki.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This reported cadaver belonged to the University of Health and Welfare School of Medicine. Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of the International University of Health and Welfare (20-Im-020).

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General consent was confirmed by the living will of the donors.

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Aoki, A., Makihara, Y., Tamura, A. et al. Anatomical analysis of ligaments surrounding calcaneocuboid joint; implications for role in foot stability. Surg Radiol Anat 46, 425–431 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-024-03303-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-024-03303-2

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