title: Anterolateral compartment of the ankle in the lateral impingement syndrome: appearance on CT arthrography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article describes the appearance of the anterolateral recess of the posttraumatic ankle on CT arthrography and clearly shows the benefit of this technique in the diagnosis of soft-tissue impingement.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out on 44 patients examined by CT arthrography and arthroscopy for chronic, posttraumatic ankle pain. The analysis principally concerned the lateral compartment--in particular, the synovial regularity and the cartilage of the talar dome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four CT patterns were identified: type 0, uniform filling of the recess with clear limits; type I, intraarticular linear structure outlined by contrast agent; type II, nodular formation in the lateral groove; and type III, irregular appearance of the edges of the lateral groove. Ninety-one percent (10/11) of type II patterns were characterized as meniscoid lesions by arthroscopic examination, 100% (14/14) of type III patterns corresponded to an abundant fibrous reaction, and arthroscopic findings were normal for 100% (2/2) of type 0 patterns and 88% (15/17) of type I patterns. The latter was thus considered as a normal variant outlining the accessory anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament. Type II and III lesions were statistically associated (p = .001) with a chondropathy when time from initial trauma was greater than 22 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT arthrography provides evidence of anterolateral soft-tissue impingement--in particular, in type II or III patterns. These lesions are statistically associated with a chondropathy.
authors.affiliation: Service de radiologie, Groupe Hospitalier Pellegrin, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hauger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moinard
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lasalarie
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chauveaux
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Diard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000209:etiology; D001182:Arthroscopy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D010007:Osteochondritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed