Abstract
In this study, the inferior fascicle of the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL) was classified to provide basic information to help elucidate the mechanism of ankle joint anterolateral impingement, and the morphological features of each type were compared for the purpose of clarification. This investigation examined 100 feet from 52 cadavers. The AITFL was classified into four types according to the presence or absence of the inferior fascicle and the positional relationship between the AITFL and the inferior fascicle of the AITFL. The morphological features of the AITFL that were measured included the fibre bundle length, fibre bundle width, fibre bundle angle, and the distance between the joint levels. A distinct, independent inferior fascicle of the AITFL was identified in 15 feet (15%). There were no significant differences in the morphological features based on differences in the AITFL classification. Therefore, these findings suggest that the presence or absence of the inferior fascicle and the difference in the positional relationship between the AITFL and the inferior fascicle of the AITFL are less likely to be involved in impingement during ankle dorsiflexion.
Highlights
Ankle impingement syndromes are painful conditions caused by friction of joint tissues
Five patients reported no pain in their ankle or limitation in activity, and the results were considered excellent. They postulated that the posttraumatic anterolateral hyperlaxity due to an injured anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) resulted in anterior extrusion of the talar dome with dorsiflexion, which contacted the inferior fascicle of the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL) with greater pressure and friction
In the present study, the inferior fascicle of the AITFL was classified by type using a large number of cadavers to provide basic information to help elucidate the mechanism of ankle joint anterolateral impingement, and the morphological features of each type were compared for the purpose of clarification
Summary
Ankle impingement syndromes are painful conditions caused by friction of joint tissues. Bassett et al.[12] found that the inferior fascicle of the AITFL was present in 10 of 11 feet in a study using fresh cadavers, and they reported that the inferior fascicle contacted the anterolateral corner of the talus at an average ankle dorsiflexion angle of 12° (9°–17°). Five patients reported no pain in their ankle or limitation in activity, and the results were considered excellent They postulated that the posttraumatic anterolateral hyperlaxity due to an injured anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) resulted in anterior extrusion of the talar dome with dorsiflexion, which contacted the inferior fascicle of the AITFL with greater pressure and friction. In the present study, the inferior fascicle of the AITFL was classified by type using a large number of cadavers to provide basic information to help elucidate the mechanism of ankle joint anterolateral impingement, and the morphological features of each type (fibre bundle length, fibre bundle width, the angle of the fibre bundle to the joint, and the distance between the joint levels) were compared for the purpose of clarification
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