Role of MRI in Evaluation of Traumatic Ankle Injuries

Abstract

Background: MR imaging has become the diagnostic modality of choice for the evaluation of traumatic ligamentous, tendinous injures of the ankle and occult bony trauma. This article reviews the current applications of MR imaging for the evaluation of most of these lesions. Ankle sprains are considered the most common lower limb injuries (incidence between 5 - 7 per 1000 persons/year in Europe), affecting more frequently young athletes; the most common mechanism of injury is represented by inversion of the foot (less frequently eversion). Aim of the Work: The aim of the current study is to emphasize the value of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in evaluation of patients with ankle pain caused by traumatic injury. Patients and Methods: A descriptive study, conducted from March 2017 till June 2017. Sixty patients underwent MRI examination (patients with traumatic ankle pain) during this period. Twenty patients have normal MRI examination and not included in the study while forty patients have positive MRI findings. All patients were performed MRI in radiology department, Ain Shams University Hospital. The examination carried out after signing the informed consent by the patient himself or his guardian if the patient is incapacitated by any means. Results: According to the data collected from our study, we have 70 pathologies diagnosed by MRI after traumatic ankle injuries. - 17 (24.3%) of them were ligamentous injuries. - 16 (22.9%) were tendon injuries. - 14 (20%) were bone injuries [3 (21.43%) of them were fractures and 5 (35.71%) of them were osteochondral lesions and 6 (42.86%) of them were Bone contusions]. - 23 (32.8%) from the seventy pathology have joint effusion. Conclusion: MRI is modality of choice in evaluating ankle injuries due to its high soft tissue contrast resolution, and multi-planar capabilities. It provides a non-invasive tool for the diagnosis of Ankle injuries, which are often difficult to diagnose with alternative modalities. MRI is particularly advantageous for assessing soft tissue structures around the ankle such as tendons, ligaments, nerves, and fascia and for detecting occult bone injuries.