title: Correlation and comparison of syndesmosis dimension on CT and MRI.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Various methods using CT scan have been described to diagnose distal tibiofibular syndesmotic injuries. However, CT scan does not take into account the amount of cartilage within the distal tibiofibular joint and could therefore lead to false positive results. We present the first study correlating the findings of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis on CT and MRI scans.
  
  
  METHODS
  CT and MRI scan of consecutive patients over a period of 18 months, and of a time lapsed less than 12 months between the two imaging modalities, were reviewed. Measurements of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis were taken according to a previously published study at the level of the distal tibial physeal scar.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six ankles from 25 patients were included in this study for analysis. Significant difference between CT and MRI assessments in the overall distal tibiofibular dimensions and in the posterior distal tibiofibular distance for those ankles with evidence of osteoarthritis was found. Interclass correlation coefficients suggest that such methodology was reproducible and reliable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When the widening found on a CT scan is minor or the diagnosis is equivocal, a contralateral comparative CT or an ipsilateral MRI scan is recommended to prevent misdiagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level IV.
authors.affiliation: Adult Foot and Ankle Reconstruction Unit, Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Great Maze Pond, London Bridge, SE9 2RT, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: fabian.wong@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Adult Foot and Ankle Reconstruction Unit, Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Great Maze Pond, London Bridge, SE9 2RT, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.affiliation: Adult Foot and Ankle Reconstruction Unit, Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Great Maze Pond, London Bridge, SE9 2RT, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nadeem
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mushtaq
authors.affiliation: Adult Foot and Ankle Reconstruction Unit, Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Great Maze Pond, London Bridge, SE9 2RT, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Adult Foot and Ankle Reconstruction Unit, Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Great Maze Pond, London Bridge, SE9 2RT, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Samrendu K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Adult Foot and Ankle Reconstruction Unit, Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Great Maze Pond, London Bridge, SE9 2RT, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abbasian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: CT; Correlation; Distal tibiofibular syndesmosis; MRI