Arthrography, talar tilt and surgical findings after inversion trauma of the ankle.

Abstract

Both inversion stress examination under general anesthesia and arthrography are sensitive indicators of lateral ankle ligament pathology (91%, 96% resp.). Arthrography is significantly superior to inversion stress examination done under local anesthesia (96%, 70% resp.). Peroneus tendon sheath filling is always pathological, but although this does not always indicate calcaneo-fibular ligament rupture, such rupture cannot be excluded in its absence. Talar tilt difference cannot be correlated with the extent of ligamentous rupture and therefore inversion stress examination, while providing valuable additional information, must be regarded as a secondary technique to ankle arthrography.