title: Effect of axial load and ankle position on ankle stability.
abstract: The range of motion of 10 fresh cadaveric ankle specimens was measured for flexion, anterior-posterior drawer, inversion-eversion, and internal-external rotation under conditions that simulated normal weight-bearing. At a 70 kg load, range of motion significantly diminished in all directions (p < 0.005). Plantar flexion was diminished to a greater degree than dorsiflexion. For anterior-posterior drawer in the loaded state, ankle flexion did not play a significant role in determining stability. Factors such as ligamentous attachments may be more critical than mortise geometry in determining anterior-posterior translation. For torsion and version, stability was greatest in dorsiflexion. That ankle stability is related to articular congruity with increased load-bearing emphasizes the importance of anatomical restoration of the ankle mortise in the injury state.
authors.affiliation: Columbia Orthopaedic Biomechanical Laboratory, Columbia Hospital, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Stiehl
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Skrade
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Needleman
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Scheidt
mesh_terms: D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D006801:Humans; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016474:Weight-Bearing