Abstract
Arrangements of the lateral collateral ligaments of the ankle are complex. Injuries to these ligaments can occur in the inverted planter flexed position of the ankle. Traditionally, the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) is the first ligament involved in such ankle injuries. We reviewed the anatomical arrangements of the lateral ankle. Twenty ankles from ten Caucasian cadavers were carefully dissected. Length and width of each ligament were measured in neutral, dorsiflexion and plantar flexion. The angle between the ATFL and other ligaments was also recorded. ATFL was present in 95% of ankles dissected. Five ankles showed two slip configuration of the ATFL. One ATFL was noted as being significantly thicker and another one was significantly narrow. Mean length of the ATFL in neutral was 15.5 mm (range 10–21 mm), which increased in plantar flexion to 18 mm (range 11–25 mm) and decreased slightly in dorsiflexion to 14.5 mm (range 10–19 mm). The calcaneofibular ligament was present in all dissections and had a mean measurement of 18.5 mm in neutral (range 14–23 mm) decreasing to 17 mm in planter flexion and 15.5 mm in dorsiflexion. Treating ligamentous ankle injuries can be very costly, thus creating a large economic burden to both patients and health institutions. Understanding the anatomical characteristics of the lateral collateral ligament complex of the ankle provides the basic foundation for understanding injuries and helps to clinically manage such injuries appropriately.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ferran NA, Maffulli N (2006) Epidemiology of sprains of the lateral ankle ligament complex. Foot Ankle Clin 11:659–662
Ferran NA, Oliva F, Maffulli N (2009) Ankle instability. Sports Med Arthrosc 17:139–145
Kumai T, Takakura Y, Rufai A, Milz S, Benjamin M (2002) The functional anatomy of the human anterior talofibular ligament in relation to ankle sprains. J Anat 200:457–465
Lynch SA, Renström PA (1999) Treatment of acute lateral ankle ligament rupture in the athlete. Conservative versus surgical treatment. Sports Med 27:61–71
Malliaropoulos N, Papacostas E, Papalada A, Maffulli N (2006) Acute lateral ankle sprains in track and field athletes: an expanded classification. Foot Ankle Clin 11:497–507
Taser F, Shafiq Q, Ebraheim NA (2006) Anatomy of lateral ankle ligaments and their relationship to bony landmarks. Surg Radiol Anat 28:391–397
van den Bekerom MP, Oostra RJ, Alvarez PG, van Dijk CN (2008) The anatomy in relation to injury of the lateral collateral ligaments of the ankle: a current concepts review. Clin Anat 21:619–626
Zöch C, Fialka-Moser V, Quittan M (2003) Rehabilitation of ligamentous ankle injuries: a review of recent studies. Br J Sports Med 37:291–295
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Raheem, O.A., O’Brien, M. Anatomical review of the lateral collateral ligaments of the ankle: a cadaveric study. Anat Sci Int 86, 189–193 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-011-0109-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-011-0109-7