Evaluation of anterior talofibular ligament lesion using 3-dimensional computed tomography.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) imaging for the diagnosis of anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) injury.


METHODS
Six patients with lateral instability of ankle joint were examined with 3D CT preoperatively. Three patients had chronic ATFL tear, and the others had os subfibulare. 3D CT images were compared with magnetic resonance imaging and the operative findings.


RESULTS
The ATFL in the uninvolved side could be depicted clearly by 3D CT in all patients. In patients with chronic ATFL tear, 3D CT could evaluate the condition of ATFL remnant much better than MRI. In patients with os subfibulare, the relationship between bone fragment and ATFL was clearly imaged in 3D CT. Surgical findings in all patients were correlated well with 3D CT.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that 3D CT has the possibility of being a useful diagnostic tool for evaluation of ATFL lesion.
Nakasa
Tomoyuki
T
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, and Fukuhara Orthopaedic Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan. tnakasa@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Fukuhara
Kohei
K
Adachi
Nobuo
N
Ochi
Mitsuo
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed