title: The effects of tibiofibularis anterior ligaments on ankle joint biomechanics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the biomechanical behavior of anterior inferior tibiofibularis ligament (AITFL) deficient human ankle under axial loading of ankle at stance phase of gait. In order to investigate the contribution of AITFL to ankle stability, an in vitro sequential experimental setup was simulated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The measurement of posterior displacement of distal tibia and anterior displacement of the foot, in neutral position, secondary to axial compression, was performed by two non-contact video extensometers. Eight freshly frozen, anatomically intact, cadaveric human ankle specimens were included and tested. An axial compression test machine was utilized from 0 to 800 Newtonswith a loading speed of 5 mm/min in order to simulate the axial weight-bearing sequence of the ankle at stance phase of human gait.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant difference between anteroposterior displacement values for AITFL-Intact and AITFL-Dissected specimens (p≤0.05). Mean AITFL-Intact and mean AITFL-Dissected ankle anteroposterior displacement was 1.28±0.47 mm and 2.06±0.7 mm, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study determined some numerical and quantitative data about the biomechanical properties of AITFL in neutral foot position. In the emergency department, diagnosis and treatment of AITFL injury, due to ankle distortion, is important. In AITFL injuries, ankle biomechanics is affected, and ankle instability occurs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey. akarakasli@mailcity.com.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karakaşlı
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erduran
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Faculty of Medicine, Çanakkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Lütfü
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baktıroğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Private Sani Konukoğlu Hospital, Gaziantep, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aydın
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Büdeyri
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomechanics, Institute of Health Science, University of Dokuz Eylul, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Didem Venüs
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Yıldız
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Havıtçıoğlu
mesh_terms: D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D005360:Fibula; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000628:therapy*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013977:Tibia; D016474:Weight-Bearing