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Background: Rotational ankle instability (RAI) is associated with the faster onset of severe ankle osteoarthritis via dysfunction of the anterior talofibular ligament, calcaneofibular ligament, and deltoid ligament. No specific clinical examination is available for RAI, and diagnostic imaging has limitations in evaluating ligament degradation. This study investigated the deltoid ligament degeneration using Hounsfield unit (HU) values on computed tomography (CT) images. Methods: Patients were enrolled in this retrospective analysis if they had undergone magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT scans of the ankle. The chronic ankle instability (CAI) group comprised 20 ankles with CAI (9 men, 11 women; mean age, 28.7 years) and the control group comprised 28 ankles (16 men, 12 women, mean age, 41.3 years). The average HU values of the deep posterior tibiotalar ligament (dPTL) that constitutes the deltoid ligament were measured on coronal CT images, and MRI results were used as a reference. All patients were subdivided based on the MRI findings of dPTL injury such as fascicular disruption, irregularity, and the loss of striation. Results: A strong negative correlation was identified between age and HU values for all patients (Spearman ρ = −0.63; P < .001). The mean HU values of the dPTL for participants aged Conclusion: In addition to the conventional imaging examination such as stress radiographs and MRI, HU measurements of CT images could be useful for quantitatively and noninvasively evaluating degenerative changes in the deltoid ligament for CAI patients to assist the diagnosis of RAI. Level of Evidence: Level III. case-control study.

Background: The current operative standard of treatment for bimalleolar equivalent ankle fracture is open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the lateral malleolus followed by syndesmotic stabilization if indicated. There is controversy surrounding the indication and need for deltoid ligament repair in this setting. The purpose of this study was to quantify the biomechanical effect of deltoid ligament repair in an ankle fracture soft tissue injury model. Methods: Nine fresh-frozen cadaveric specimens were included in this study. Each leg was tested under 5 conditions: intact, syndesmosis and deltoid ligament sectioned, syndesmosis fixed, deltoid repaired, and both the syndesmosis and deltoid ligament repaired. Anterior, posterior, lateral, and medial drawer and rotational stresses were applied to the foot, and the resulting talus displacement was documented. Results: Isolated deltoid repair significantly reduced anterior displacement to normal levels. Displacement with lateral drawer testing was not significantly corrected until both structures were repaired. Deltoid repair and syndesmosis fixation each reduced internal rotation significantly with further reduction to normal levels when both were repaired. External rotation remained elevated relative to the intact condition regardless of which structures were repaired. Conclusion: There is existing controversy regarding the importance of deltoid ligament repair in the setting of ankle fractures. The findings of this biomechanical study indicate that deltoid ligament repair enhances ankle stability in ankle fractures with both syndesmotic and deltoid disruption. Clinical Relevance: Concomitant deltoid ligament repair in addition to stabilization of fracture and syndesmosis may improve long-term functioning of the ankle joint and clinical outcomes.

Repair of the deltoid ligaments is suggested in patients with medial ankle instability after a ligamentous injury or lateral malleolar fracture fixation. Arthroscopy can be a definitive mode of determining whether there is medial instability and, therefore, help to determine whether there is a need to repair the deltoid ligaments. The authors describe a technique for the arthroscopic repair of the deltoid ligaments, using a suture passer and suture anchors. Cadaveric analysis was utilized to establish safe zones and indicate that there is a relatively wide safe zone between the posterior tibialis tendon and the saphenous vein when performing the technique. The authors have performed more than 87 arthroscopic deltoid repairs, with a greater than 90% satisfaction rate among patients. However, future studies with validated outcome measures are needed. Level of Evidence: Level V, expert opinion.

Background: Regardless of fibular status, the presence of a superficial deltoid ligament disruption or a combination of deep and superficial deltoid ligament disruption is central to the decision-making process in treating ankle fractures. The aims of the present study were to test whether ultrasonography can assess deltoid ligament integrity and to determine its validity and reliability by comparing it with gravity stress radiography. Methods: A consecutive series of 81 eligible patients with a nondisplaced or minimally displaced fibula fracture identified on a standard radiograph were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent gravity stress radiography and ultrasonography. Image analysis included the layer type, integrity, and tear site of the deltoid ligament. Ultrasound validity and intra- and interobserver reliability were assessed by the interpretations of the first author and an independent observer who were blinded to the results. Results: Of all patients, 64 (79.0%) had a deltoid ligament disruption; most of the tears were of both the superficial and deep layers, partial and proximal attachment tears, and only 8 (12.5%) were complete tears. Patients with an intact deltoid ligament had a mean medial clear space (MCS) value of 2.7 ± 0.5 mm, and those with deltoid ligament tears had a mean MCS value of 5.9 ± 3.4 mm ( P < .001). In a comparison between ultrasonography and gravity radiography, we found a sensitivity of 100% versus 97%, a specificity of 90% versus 100%, a positive predictive value of 97% versus 100%, and a negative predictive value of 100% versus 90%, respectively. The intra- and interobserver reliability was evaluated as almost perfect in all conditions. In a comparison between ultrasonography and gravity radiography, we found a sensitivity of 100% versus 97%, a specificity of 90% versus 100%, a positive predictive value of 97% versus 100%, and a negative predictive value of 100% versus 90%, respectively. Conclusion: Ultrasonography proved to be an accurate tool, allowing the identification of deltoid ligament disruption and the involved components in a more dynamic fashion. Its relative ease of use and lack of ionizing radiation make it a useful and confident technique that can be performed by an orthopedist. Level of Evidence: Level II, prospective comparative study.

BACKGROUND: The optimal method for the determination of ankle stability remains controversial in rotational ankle fractures without medial bony injury. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: The purposes of this study were to (1) evaluate whether posterior malleolar (PM) fracture displacement is associated with deltoid ligament injury in supination-external rotation (SER) ankle fractures and (2) compare the diagnostic accuracy of PM displacement and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation of the deep deltoid ligament in identifying fractures with deltoid ligament incompetence. METHODS: Patients with rotational bimalleolar injuries containing lateral malleolar and PM fractures without bony medial injury were included. After operative lateral and PM fixation, an external rotation stress test was performed to evaluate deltoid ligament stability. Operative dictations were reviewed to confirm injury pattern, stability on stress test, and visual inspection of the deltoid ligament. Maximum PM displacement was assessed on lateral X-ray. Pre-operative MRI of the ankle was performed following closed reduction and splinting. RESULTS: The final cohort consisted of 13 trimalleolar equivalent fractures (torn deltoid ligament) and 20 bimalleolar fractures (medial malleolus and deltoid ligament intact). Average PM displacement was significantly higher for SER trimalleolar equivalent patterns when measured on lateral X-ray. The sensitivity of detecting trimalleolar equivalent fracture was higher on all reported X-ray findings than the sensitivity obtained by the reported MRI findings of deltoid ligament injury. CONCLUSION: PM displacement on X-ray is a useful adjuvant along with external rotation stress radiography and MRI evaluation of deep deltoid integrity to distinguish between stable and unstable fracture patterns and thus helps facilitate treatment decisions. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s11420-019-09697-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Category: Ankle; Basic Sciences/Biologics; Trauma Introduction/Purpose: Supination-external rotation (SER) injuries make up 80% of all ankle fractures. SER stage 2 injuries (AITFL and Weber B) are considered stable. SER stage 3 injury includes disruption of the posterior malleolus (or PITFL). In SER stage 4 there is either medial malleolus fracture or deltoid injury. SER 4 injuries have been considered unstable, requiring surgery. The deltoid ligament is a key component of ankle stability, but clinical tests to assess deltoid injury have low specificity. This biomechanical cadaveric study specifically investigates the role of the components of the deep deltoid ligament in the stabillity of SER ankle fractures. Methods: In the first phase of the study, three specimens were utilised to standardise dissection of the deltoid ligament and creation and fixation of SER ankle fracture. In phase two, four matched pairs (8 specimens) were tested using this standardised protocol (Figure1). Specimens were sequentially tested for stability when axially loaded with a custom rig with up to 750N. Specimens were tested with: ankle intact; lateral injury (AITFL and Weber B); additional posterior injury (PITFL); additional anterior deep deltoid; additional posterior deep deltoid; lateral side ORIF. Clinical photographs and radiographs were recorded at each stage. In addition, dynamic stress radiographs were performed after sectioning the deep deltoid and following fracture fixation to assess talar tilt in eversion. Results: All specimens behaved in an identical manner when subjected to this standardised protocol. When the posterior deep deltoid ligament was intact, the ankle remained stable when loaded and showed no talar tilt on dynamic stress test. Once the posterior deep deltoid ligament was sectioned, there was demonstrable instability in all specimens. Surgical stabilisation of the lateral side using standard technique with a plate prevented talar shift but not talar tilt. In adequately stabilised ankle specimens, there was no loss of fixation on axial loading. Conclusion: This biomechanical cadaveric experiment demonstrates that under the standardised test conditions, all SER fracture ankle specimens with an intact posterior deep deltoid ligament behaved as stable injuries. The posterior portion of the deep deltoid ligament is a crucial structure in conferring stability to SER stage 4 injuries. The clinical implication of this is that when the posterior deep deltoid ligament is intact, SER fractures may be managed without surgical intervention in a plantigrade cast. We also conclude that without immobilisation, the talus may tilt in the mortise risking long-term deltoid incompetence.

Category: Ankle; Other Introduction/Purpose: Chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) that is developed after multiple lateral ankle ligament injury lead to ankle osteoarthritis. Although isolated deltoid ligament injury is rare compared to lateral ankle ligament injury, deltoid ligament tear, especially deep posterior tibiotalar ligament (PTT) can be observed arthroscopically in CLAI patients. Unphysiological loading of the ankle joint with CLAI might cause degradation of the deltoid ligament. This study aimed to investigate image findings of the deltoid ligament using computed tomography (CT) value for quantitative analysis of degenerative ligament changes in CLAI patients. Methods: Among the enrolled patients who underwent ankle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT scans of the ankle, this retrospective analysis included 24 ankles without ankle osteoarthritis, osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT), flatfoot and ankle fractures (14 males and 10 females; mean age, 42.8 years) as a control group, and 14 CLAI ankles without OLT (7 males and 7 females; mean age, 31.1 years) as CLAI group. The CT scans were performed using a 64-slice multidetector row CT. Deep PTT was detected on coronal T2-weighted MR images. Both the coronal MR and CT images were matched for analysis, then average CT values were measured using the region of interest that was applied to the detected area of deep PTT on the CT images. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the correlation between age and CT value in the control group. Results: The strong negative correlation was identified between age and CT value in the control group (Spearman ρ= -0.88; p < 0.001). The CT value of the deep PTT are degraded with aging. Mean CT value of deep PTT in participants under 60 years old were 79.9 HU (95% CI, 75.1-84.8) in the control group (18 ankles), and 66.5 HU (95% CI, 58.6-74.5) in the CLAI group (14 ankles) (Welch’s t test; p = 0.005). Conclusion: MRI techniques and protocols recently have been developed, however, some limitations remain such as a quantitative evaluation of the ligament. Our findings suggest that the CLAI can lead to degradation of the deltoid ligament via an overloading of medial ankle structures. Additionally, CT values should be useful for quantitatively evaluating ligament status including degenerative changes.

BACKGROUND: Operative indications for supination-external rotation (SER) ankle fractures depend on the integrity of the medial structures. Despite the importance of assessing deep deltoid ligament injuries, the accuracy of common diagnostic tests has not been established. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: The objective of this study was to compare the ability of injury (non-stress) and stress radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose deep deltoid ligament ruptures in operative SER ankle fractures. METHODS: Patients were included who underwent surgical fixation of SER ankle fractures and had appropriate injury and manual stress test radiographs, pre-operative ankle MRI, and intra-operative assessment of deep deltoid integrity by direct visualization. The medial clear space (MCS) was considered positive for all values over 5 mm on the injury or stress mortise radiographs. MRI analysis of the deep deltoid ligament injury was performed by blinded fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists. Intra-operative direct visualization and assessment of the deltoid was performed using a direct medial ankle approach at the time of operative fracture fixation. RESULTS: Using intra-operative visualization as the gold standard, MCS measurements and MRI had differing abilities to diagnose a deep deltoid rupture. In cases where the MCS was less than 5 mm on injury radiographs and stress tests were performed, MCS measurements were much less accurate than MRI in predicting deltoid ruptures (46% versus 79%, respectively) with a high false positive rate (80%). In contrast, an MCS measurement of greater than 5 mm on injury radiographs was a strong predictor of deep deltoid rupture (accuracy of 95%). CONCLUSION: Compared with direct visualization of the deltoid ligament intra-operatively, these data support proceeding with surgery when the MCS on injury radiographs is greater than 5 mm without any additional stress tests or advanced imaging. When the MCS is less than 5 mm, we recommend MRI analysis because of its increased accuracy and decreased false positive rate. Improving our ability to diagnose deltoid ruptures will contribute to more effective management of patients with SER ankle fractures. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s11420-018-09655-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Evaluation and management of ankle fractures has progressed in parallel to an evolving understanding of ankle stability. While stability of the mortise had historically been attributed to the lateral malleolus, Lauge-Hansen’s contributions followed by multiple other investigations increased the emphasis on the significance of medial-sided injury in destabilizing the mortise. As the importance of the deltoid ligament has been elucidated, the means of assessing ligamentous incompetence and the prognostic significance of an unstable mortise continue to be defined. Level of Evidence: Level V, expert opinion.

Category: Ankle; Trauma Introduction/Purpose: Diagnosis and treatment of ankle medial ligament lesions in malleolar fractures has always been a matter of controversy. Even when deltoid involvement is clear, the direct repair of this structure is not a consensus. Recently, deltoid reparation through an arthroscopic technique was described aiming to potentialize better clinical results and minimize complications. We intend to demonstrate safety and functional results of operated ankle fractures that had an arthroscopic deltoid repair. Methods: This is a retrospective study in patients diagnosed with ankle fractures associated with acute deltoid injuries submitted to malleolar fixation and deltoid arthroscopic repair between June 2016 and January 2020. All patients were evaluated for pain and function according to the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Score (AOFAS) at a minimum of 6 months in follow-up. Results: Between January 2016 and January 2020, 20 ankles with fractures or dislocations were operated and the deltoid ligament rupture was repaired arthroscopically. A mean follow-up of 14.45 months (6-48) was observed, and patients presented an average AOFAS of 93.5 (SD 7.25) and a VAS of 0.75 (SD 1.05). Three minor complications were noticed and no signs of medial chronic instability, loss of reduction or osteoarthritis were observed. Conclusion: The repair of the deltoid complex and the low morbidity of the arthroscopic technique used may improve the clinical outcomes of these patients. Additional studies, with a prospective and comparative methodology are required to sustain this proposal.

Background:There is no consensus on the optimal treatment or preferred method of operation for the management of acute deltoid ligament injuries during an ankle fracture fixation. This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of repairing the deltoid ligament during the fixation of an ankle fracture compared to conservative management.Methods:We retrospectively evaluated 78 consecutive cases of a ruptured deltoid ligament with an associated ankle fracture between 2001 and 2016. All of the ankle fractures were treated with a plate and screw fixation. Patients in the conservative treatment for ruptured deltoid ligament underwent management from 2001 to 2008 (37 fractures, group 1), while the operative treatment for ruptured deltoid ligament was included from 2009 to 2016 (41 fractures, group 2). The outcome measures included radiographic findings, the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot scores, visual analog scale scores, and the Foot Function Index. All patients were followed for an average of 17 months.Results:Radiologic findings in both groups were comparable, but the final follow-up of the medial clear space (MCS) was significantly smaller in the group 2 ( P < .01). Clinical outcomes were similar between the two groups ( P > .05). Comparing those who underwent syndesmotic fixation between both groups, group 2 showed a significantly smaller final follow-up MCS, and all clinical outcomes were better in group 2 ( P < .05). Linear regression analysis showed that the final follow-up MCS had a significant influence on clinical outcomes ( P < .05).Conclusion:Although the clinical outcomes were not significantly different between the 2 groups, we obtained a more favorable final follow-up MCS in the deltoid repair group. Particularly when accompanied by a syndesmotic injury, the final follow-up MCS and the clinical outcomes were better in the deltoid repair group. In the case of high-grade unstable fractures of the ankle with syndesmotic instability, a direct repair of the deltoid ligament was adequate for restoring medial stability.Level of Evidence:Level III, retrospective comparative case series.

Background: Surgical management of patients with acute and chronic ankle instability (CAI) has historically focused on the lateral ligament complex. Recent studies in CAI patients have shown that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and arthroscopy demonstrate concomitant injury to the deltoid ligament complex We performed a systematic review to determine if consistent clinical, diagnostic imaging, or arthroscopic findings of deltoid ligament injury in the setting of CAI have been described. In addition, we sought to determine if treatment options and/or clinical outcomes have been described. Methods: A systematic review was conducted using the PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase databases. Articles were included if they had a majority of patients 18 years of age or older, focused on deltoid ligament injury in ankle instability, and reported diagnostic and/or treatment methods. Articles were excluded if the study focused on the deltoid ligament in the acute fracture setting. All included articles were assessed for diagnostic criteria, treatments, and patient outcomes. Results: Our search yielded 157 articles, of which a total of 13 were included in our study. Arthroscopy was described as the gold standard to diagnose and evaluate the severity of deltoid ligament injury, however, little objective data on the arthroscopic diagnosis of deltoid ligament insufficiency was reported. MRI was the imaging modality of choice to evaluate deltoid ligament injury and had a high sensitivity and specificity when compared with arthroscopy. No standard MRI diagnostic criteria for deltoid ligament injury were identified in the literature. Specific treatment techniques and long-term outcomes were not well described in the manuscripts included in this review. Conclusion: There is limited knowledge on deltoid ligament insufficiency in the setting of chronic ankle instability. Criteria for characterizing deltoid ligament damage with diagnostic imaging appear to be evolving, but there is no standard classification. Only 1 author has described a method to evaluate deltoid ligament competency on arthroscopic examination. There are currently no objective data to guide treatment decisions. Level of Evidence: Level III.

Background: Double hindfoot arthrodesis is a reliable treatment option in lower extremity deformity and arthritis. Single (medial) and 2-incision techniques have been described. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent of cartilage debrided in each approach and to evaluate the competency of the deltoid ligament. Methods: Eight matched pairs of cadaveric specimens were acquired. One limb from each pair was randomly assigned to the single medial incision and the other to the 2-incision technique. Stress radiographs were obtained prior to dissection to evaluate for valgus tibiotalar tilt. The talonavicular and subtalar articular surfaces were denuded of cartilage and the joints disarticulated. The percentage of cartilage debrided was determined using ImageJ software. Postoperative tibiotalar tilt was measured with a technique and threshold previously described by our group. The intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated to determine inter- and intraobserver reliability. Results: The single medial incision demonstrated significantly less cartilage denuded than the 2-incision technique at the talar head (61.1% ± 20.4% vs 88.1% ± 6.1%, P < .001), and the posterior facets of the talus (53.5% ± 7.6% vs 73.6% ± 7.0%, P < .001) and calcaneus (55.3% ± 16.5% vs 81.0% ± 7.4%, P = .001). Overall, 75% of specimens that underwent a single medial incision approach demonstrated increased valgus tibiotalar tilt postdissection, whereas none that underwent the 2-incision technique developed increased tibiotalar tilt ( P < .01). The average tibiotalar tilt among these specimens was 4.6 ± 1.3 degrees (range 2.5-5.7 degrees). For all measurements, the intraclass correlation coefficient was greater than 0.8. Conclusion: The posterior facet of the subtalar joint and talar head are at risk of subtotal debridement, as well as increased tibiotalar tilt with the single medial incision technique. Adequate debridement may require greater soft tissue dissection, possibly at the expense of medial ankle stability. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

The deltoid ligament is a complex structure of the tibiotalar joint that limits the translation and tilting of the talus. It is often associated with injuries of the ankle joint. The deltoid complex ligament has 2 layers; one superficial with 4 bands and the other deep with 2 bands. Nevertheless, the prevalence and size of its components are reported with some variability in the literature. The aim of this meta-analysis is to generate weighted values of the prevalence, size, and attachment surface areas of its components. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria with a total of 142 ankle specimens. The analyses demonstrate that the most consistent component is the deep posterior tibiotalar (100%), followed by the tibiospring (≈94%), the tibionavicular (≈90%), and the tibiocalcaneal (85%). The superficial posterior ligament and the deep anterior tibiotalar ligament were the least prevalent (≈80% and ≈63%, respectively). The longest ligament was found to be the tibionavicular ligament and the shortest band was the deep posterior tibiotalar ligament. The tibionavicular ligament was the thinnest of all deltoid complex ligament components. This study yielded more accurate data on the frequency and size of its components. The possible absence of a component, particularly of the superficial layer, might compromise joint stability in acute ankle injuries. Levels of Evidence: Systematic review of level III studies: prospective studies

Background: Ankle injury is the most common injury in men’s and women’s basketball, regardless of the level of competition. Purpose: To use the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Injury Surveillance Program/System (ISP/ISS) to review the 10-year epidemiology of ankle injuries in men’s and women’s collegiate basketball players. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: The NCAA ISP was queried for men’s and women’s collegiate basketball ankle injury data from the 2004 through 2014 academic years. Ankle injury rates were calculated based on injuries per athlete-exposure (AE). Injury proportion ratios (IPRs) were determined by comparing variables between sexes. Activity and position of injury were also studied. Results: Over the 10-year study period, most ankle injuries in collegiate basketball occurred in the preseason (female, 1.45/1000 AEs; male, 2.00/1000 AEs), were contact related (female, 50.4%; male, 57.6%), were treated conservatively (female, 98.5%; male, 99.3%), and were new injuries (female, 78.0%; male, 78.9%), resulting in a time loss of less than 7 days (female, 62.7%; male, 65.2%). The most common injury types were lateral ligament complex tears (female, 83.5%; male, 80.0%), deltoid ligament tears (female, 5.6%; male, 7.2%), and high ankle sprains (female, 7.1%; male, 7.0%). Guards experienced the highest rate of ankle injuries in competition (female, 50.1%; male, 43.3%), and rebounding was found to be the most common activity during an injury (female, 30.3%; male, 34.4%). The rate of ankle injuries was significantly lower in women than in men (IPR, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.75-0.88]). Conclusion: This study found that most ankle injuries in collegiate basketball occurred during the preseason, were contact related, were treated conservatively, and were new injuries that resulted in a time loss of less than 7 days.

The ankle is one of the most common sites of musculoskeletal injury. In a series of 1176 athletic injuries, 14% were found to be injuries of the ankle, and 85% of those were specifically sprains of ankle ligaments [1]. Although many ankle ligaments can be well assessed by an operator trained in ultrasound techniques, evaluation by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers the advantages of a comprehensive and operator-independent examination [2]. In this article, a practical review of MRI of ankle ligaments is presented. The discussion is limited primarily to the ligaments surrounding the tibiotalar joint, particularly the inferior tibiofibular syndesmotic ligaments and the medial and lateral collateral ligaments (Table 1). Because of its close association with the deltoid ligament, the spring ligament is also included. Ligament names are represented by unambiguous abbreviations similar to those appearing in the literature [3e5]. For each ligament, normal anatomy, MRI appearance, and function will be addressed. Next, with regards to the injured ligament, basic mechanisms of injury will be reviewed, taking into consideration differing opinions in the literature that, in some cases, diverge from the classic teachings of Lauge and Hansen [3]. Because ligament injury usually manifests itself in similar ways, such as abnormal signal intensity (intrasubstance or periligamentous) or abnormal morphology (thickening, thinning, discontinuity, absence, irregularity, indistinctness, or heterotopic ossification) [2,4,6], additional imaging clues to injury that are ligamentspecific will be emphasized. Finally, because chronic injury

Background: Anatomy of the medial collateral and spring ligament complexes has been the cause of confusion. The anatomic description is highly dependent on the source studied and little agreement exists between texts. In addition, inconsistent nomenclature has been used to describe the components. This study attempted to clarify confusion through the creation of a 3D ligament map using attachment-based dissection. Methods: Nine fresh foot and ankle specimens were observed. The medial collateral ligament and spring ligament complexes were dissected using their attachment sites as a guide to define individual components. Each component’s perimeter and thickness was measured and each bony attachment was mapped using a microscribe 3D digitizer. Results: Five components were identified contributing to the ligament complexes of interest: the tibiocalcaneonavicular, superficial posterior tibiotalar, deep posterior tibiotalar, deep anterior tibiotalar, and inferoplantar longitudinal ligaments. The largest component by total attachment area was the tibiocalcaneonavicular ligament followed by the deep posterior tibiotalar ligament. The largest ligament surface area of attachment to the tibia and talus was the deep posterior tibiotalar ligament. The largest attachment to the navicular and calcaneus was the tibiocalcaneonavicular ligament, which appeared to function in holding these bones in proximity while supporting the head of the talus. Conclusion: By defining complex components by their attachment sites, a novel, more functional and reproducible description of the medial collateral and spring ligament complexes was created. Clinical Relevance: The linear measurements and 3D maps may prove useful when attempting more anatomically accurate reconstructions.

Background: There is heterogeneity in the literature regarding the anatomy and number of ligamentous bands that form the deltoid ligament (DL). Anatomic knowledge of the DL and its variations are important for surgeons who repair ankle fractures. Methods: The DL was dissected in 33 ankles from 17 formalin-fixed cadavers (mean age at death, 76.6 years) to examine its morphology. The length, width, and thickness of its constituent bands were recorded with a digital caliper. Descriptive and correlational statistics were used to investigate the relationships between band size, age at death, and sex. A literature review was conducted to compare our data to those of previous studies. Results: The DL has superficial and deep layers with up to 8 different bands. Conclusion: The DL stabilizes the medial ankle and should be evaluated in flatfoot deformities and severe ankle fractures. Clinical Relevance: Anatomic knowledge of DL variations should aid the surgeon in repairing torn DLs.

The calcaneonavicular (spring) ligament complex is a critical static support of the medial arch of the foot. Compromise of this structure has been implicated as a primary causative factor of talar derotation leading to the clinical deformity of peritalar subluxation. Few procedures have been described to address this deficiency. The technique we describe here is a simple yet effective method to reconstruct the spring ligament complex that can easily be used in conjunction with other more commonly used procedures for extra-articular reconstructions of this deformity. We believe this procedure allows for a more powerful deformity correction and may decrease dependency on other nonanatomic reconstructive procedures.

Background: This study aimed to extend knowledge on the arthroscopic evaluation of the unstable ankle joint and the outcome of ligament reconstruction on rotational instability. In contrast to previous studies, we investigated the combined repair of lateral and medial ligaments. Methods: Ninety-six patients underwent medial and lateral ligament reconstruction between 2006 and 2008, 81 of whom, with a mean age of 31.9 (range, 14 to 44) years, completed the 12-month followup and were therefore included in this study ( Table 1 ). Clinical, radiographic, and concomitant arthroscopic examination was performed prior to the ligament stabilization. Postoperative followup included clinical and radiographic evaluation after 3, 6, and 12 months. Results: Arthroscopy showed a lesion of the anterior fibulotalar ligament (AFTL), calcaneofibular ligament (CFL), and tibiocalcanear ligament (TCL) (Deep part of deltoid ligament complex) in 67 patients. An avulsion of the proximal insertion point of the ATTL was additionally found in 14 cases. Clinical results 3 months after surgery showed a significant increase in the AOFAS-Hindfoot Score as well as a significant decrease of the Visual Analogue-Scale for pain (VAS) ( p < 0.0001). This outcome persisted at the 12-month examination. Conclusion: Rotational instability of the ankle joint in most cases has an injury of the lateral ligaments and a component of the deltoid, the TCL, but rarely with a combined lesion of the TCL and the anterior tibiotalar ligament (ATTL) (Superficial part of deltoid ligament complex). The combined lateral and medial ligament reconstruction with an anchor technique had a good clinical outcome with high patient satisfaction with few complications. Level of Evidence: IV, Retrospective Case Series

Background: Treatment of patients with repeated ankle sprains and chronic lateral ankle instability tends to focus on the lateral collateral ligaments. We reviewed records to ascertain the prevalence of abnormalities of the deltoid ligament in this population. Methods: Retrospective review of MR images and surgical reports was performed for all patients during a 3-year period that underwent surgical treatment of chronic ankle instability at a single institution. Forty-seven ankles (46 patients) met inclusion criteria. None had medial ankle pain. Results: On MRI, all patients had anterior talofibular ligament tear, plus injury to one or more additional ligaments. Ninety-one percent had injury of calcaneofibular ligament. Injury to the posterior talofibular ligament was less common (49%). Deltoid ligament injuries were seen in 72% of cases (23% superficial deltoid only, 6% deep deltoid only, 43% both superficial and deep components). Of patients with injury to the superficial deltoid, 32% had an intact deep deltoid ligament. MRI correlated well to surgical findings. Conclusion: Deltoid ligament injuries were common in patients with lateral ankle instability who underwent reconstruction. Level of Evidence: IV, Retrospective Case Series

Background: Stage IV is the most advanced form of acquired adult flatfoot deformity (AAFD). It is present when valgus tibiotalar angulation occurs with foot deformities associated with AAFD. Tibiotalocalcaneal or pantalar fusion has been the gold standard for treatment of Stage IV AAFD. However, in some of these patients the tibiotalar deformity is correctable. We sought to determine whether minimally invasive deltoid ligament reconstruction in conjunction with triple arthrodesis (MIDLR/Triple) allows tibiotalar joint sparing surgical therapy in Stage IV-A AAFD patients. Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed with Stage IV-A AAFD were given the option of undergoing ankle joint sparing surgery with the MIDLR/Triple technique. Those that chose this option were followed longitudinally. Eight patients underwent the ankle joint sparing procedure. Average followup was 36 months. Radiographic and functional outcome measures were obtained. Success was defined as maintenance of 3 degrees or less of valgus tibiotalar angulation and greater than 2 mm of lateral joint space remaining at final followup. Results: At final followup, five were judged to have a successful outcome. In those, tibiotalar valgus angulation was reduced from 6.4 ± 2.9 degrees to 2.0 ± 2.0 degrees, lateral ankle joint space was maintained at preoperative levels and SF-12 functional scores were equal to age matched normative scores. The only parameter found to be predictive of successful outcome was the magnitude of preoperative tibiotalar tilt. Conclusions: MIDLR/triple is a new treatment option that requires significant care in patient selection and surgical execution. It is a choice that allows for preservation of ankle motion in patients diagnosed with Stage IV-A AAFD who have less than 10 degrees of valgus tibiotalar tilt on preoperative standing ankle radiographs. Level of Evidence: IV, Case Series

Category: Ankle Introduction/Purpose: To evaluate the effect of repairing deltoid ligament in patients with supination-external rotation type? ankle fractures. Methods: Between January 2013 and June 2016, 35 patients of supination-external rotation type? ankle fractures associated with deltoid ligament injury had complete medical records and were included in this study. Among all, 30 cases involved pure deltoid ligament injuries while others also included medial malleolus fractures. All fractures were treated by open reduction and internal fixation. Patients were assigned to the repaired group (21 patients) or the non-repaired group (14 patients) according to whether deltoid ligament injuries were treated during the surgery. No significant difference was found in gender, age, injury pattern, time from injury to operation(P>0.05), which was comparable. Medial clear space, visual analogue scale(VAS) score, and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score(6 months, one year, two years after surgery), Baird-Jackson scoring system and complications were recorded. Results: Thirty-five patients were followed up 21-28months.The mean duration of operation in the repaired group was significantly longer than that of the non-repaired group.Baird-Jackson scoring system: the excellent rate of the repaired group was 90.5% while the non-repaired group was 85.7% . The VAS scores and the medial clear space of preoperative and final follow-up were significantly improved. At the last follow-up,2.85 percent of the patients presented with ankle instability while 8.5 percent of them occured traumatic arthritis. The AOFAS scores at 6, 12, and 24 months after operation were (82.1 ± 6.6; 86.2 ± 5.9; 91.5 ± 5.8) and (78.1 ± 6.5; 83.9 ± 5.6; 90.3 ± 5.6). However, none of them showed significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: It’s unnecessary to repair the deltoid ligament in patients with supination-external rotation type? ankle fractures when ankle mortise restores after the fractures are fixed.

Category: Ankle Introduction/Purpose: Ankle fractures with combined deltoid ligament/syndesmotic injuries are common. Proper reduction of these injuries may be deceptively difficult due to the complexity of the tibiotalar and syndesmotic articulations. The syndesmosis, in particular, has been shown to have a fairly high rate of malreduction with traditional techniques and intraoperative imaging. Additionally, the deltoid ligament has important contributions to tibiotalar alignment and stability which cannot be replaced with laterally based fixation alone. Deltoid ligament repair has the potential to address both of the proceeding issues, but has fallen out of favor due to a lack of clinical evidence supporting its use. Here we provide cadaveric data showing that deltoid ligament repair can assist with accurate syndesmotic reduction and stabilize the talus in all planes of motion. Methods: 21 lower limbs disarticulated at the knee were obtained for testing. A material testing machine capable of exerting known axial and rotational forces was utilized for testing. A motion capture system was used to accurately track the tibia, talus, and fibula in all planes of translational and rotational movement. The relative positions of each bone with respect to each other were tracked with the ankle hanging under gravitational forces only and with a modest axial force. This was done in intact ankles, ankles following creation of a combined deltoid ligament/syndesmotic injury state, and subsequently after deltoid ligament repair (Figure 1). Results: Compared to the intact state, after injury creation there was a significant increase in talar eversion with respect to the tibia when hanging which corrected with axial loading. Additionally, there was a significant increase in talar internal rotation with respect to the tibia with axial loading. Finally, there was a trend towards increased anterior translation of the fibula with respect to the tibia with axial loading which corrected with hanging. All of these rotational/translational issues were corrected with deltoid ligament repair. Conclusion: This study provides cadaveric evidence that after a combined deltoid ligament/syndesmotic injury, deltoid ligament repair can help ensure accurate syndesmotic reduction and stabilize the tibiotalar joint, especially with respect to inversion/eversion.

Category: Trauma Introduction/Purpose: It is controversial for operative repair of deltoid ligament in acute ankle fractures. To investigate the indication for surgical interference and the clinical outcome about repair whole deltoid ligament rupture associating with ankle fractures. Methods: We performed multiple-center study in 4 clinical centers in 4 cities of China. From January 2006 to December 2011, of 1533 ankle fractures operated, 131 deltoid ligament rupture were identified and repaired operatively. They were 74 males and 57 females with a mean age of 37.2 years (range, 15-83 years). Clinical examination, radiographs, AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores and visual analogue scale were used for outcome measurement. Results: All incision healed primarily. 106 patients were followed up for 12 to 72 months with the mean follow-up of 27 months. The mean time of fracture union was 14.5 weeks (range, 9-16 weeks). The mean AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score at last follow-up was 91.4 points (range, 83-100 points). The mean score of VAS was 1.2 points (range, 0-6 points). The mean score of SF-36 was 91.2 points (range, 80-96 points). There was no ankle instability and post-trauma osteoarthritis. Conclusion: This multiple-center study demonstrated that deltoid ligament repair can benefit patients with unstable ankle after fracture fixation. A reasonable clinical evaluation and surgical repair could be done, choosing an appropriate repair technique according to the site of deltoid ligament rupture.

Category: Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: Spring ligament tear is often present in advanced stages of the Adult Acquired Flatfoot Deformity (AAFD). Previous anatomic studies have demonstrated that the superficial deltoid ligament blends with the superomedial spring ligament to provide both medial tibiotalar and talonavicular stability. They form a large confluent ligament, the tibiocalcaneonavicular ligament, (TCNL) which is the most consistently found component of the deltoid ligament. For surgical reconstruction of advanced stage AAFD with large spring ligament tears, adding allograft TCNL reconstruction to osseous correction has suggested to augment medial peritalar stability. We aimed to investigate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of the novel TCNL reconstruction for stage IIB AAFD with spring ligament tear. Methods: Twelve feet in 11 patients (7 female, 4 male, mean age 56.1 years) who underwent osseous correction and TCNL reconstruction for stage IIB AAFD were employed. TCNL reconstruction was indicated in the presence of large spring ligament tears (1.5-3 cm) and when inadequate reduction remained after osseous corrections. All 12 feet underwent gastrocnemius recession, medializing calcaneal osteotomy, lateral column lengthening and Cotton or Lapidus procedures. Bone tunnels were made in the tibia (7 mm), sustetaculum tali (6 mm) and navicular (6 mm) for tendon allograft passage for TCNL reconstruction (Figure 1). Subjects were evaluated at mean of 24 months (range, 12-33 months) after surgery. Pre- and post-operative clinical outcomes were assessed by administrating FAAM_ADL, SF-36 PF and Pain, Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function (PF) and Pain Interference (PI) domains using Computerized Adaptive Testing. Correction of forefoot abduction and sagittal arch were measured from weight bearing radiographs of the foot. Results: The FAAM_ADL improved from 69.3 to 90.1 (p = 0.001). SF-36 PF and Pain subscales both improved significantly (39.4 to 87.8, 44.6 to 93.1, respectively, p Conclusion: The current study demonstrates that TCNL reconstruction is a viable surgical treatment option for augmentation of medial peritalar stability in advanced stage AAFD with spring ligament tear. This is the first short term clinical investigation to report the clinical and radiographic outcomes of the novel TCNL reconstruction. Considering the anatomic characteristic of the deltoid-spring ligament complex, the TCNL reconstruction may play a significant role in maintaining surgical correction of deformity.

Category: Trauma Introduction/Purpose: The current standard for stabilization of the talus within the ankle mortise after bimalleolar equivalent ankle fracture is open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the lateral malleolus followed by syndesmotic screw fixation of the syndesmosis. Syndesmotic fixation may be associated with complications such as mal-reduction, joint stiffness, altered ankle biomechanics, and potential additional surgery for hardware removal. Consequently, some surgeons advocate ORIF of the lateral malleolus in conjunction with deltoid ligament repair rather than syndesmosis fixation. To our knowledge, clinical reports of this treatment option lack biomechanical evidence to support this approach. The purpose of this investigation was to compare ankle joint stability and contact pressures in a bimalleolar equivalent ankle fracture model treated with trans-syndesmotic screw fixation versus deltoid ligament repair. Methods: We prepared and tested seven fresh frozen cadaveric whole lower leg specimens with an undisturbed proximal tibiofibular joint. We tested each leg was tested under five conditions: (1) intact, (2) syndesmosis disrupted and deltoid ligament sectioned, (3) syndesmosis reduced w/ screw fixation, (4) deltoid repaired, and (5) both syndesmosis and deltoid ligament repaired. Under a nominal axial load, we applied controlled anterior, posterior, lateral, and medial drawer stresses to the foot using a custom-built testing apparatus and documented the resulting talar translation relative to the tibia. We also applied controlled internal and external rotation stresses to the ankle model and measured the provoked ankle joint rotations. In each condition, we measured peak ankle contact pressure (PACP) using a Tekscan pressure sensor under a physiologic axial load simulating single-limb stance. Results: Concurrent disruption of the syndesmosis and the deltoid ligament significantly (pConclusion: Isolated repair of the deltoid ligament after a bimalleolar equivalent ankle fracture achieves markedly better anterior displacement stability than does fixation of the syndesmosis with a screw. Under the described testing conditions, the two procedures offer similar posterior, medial, and lateral talar displacement stability and similar levels of internal and external rotational stability. Given the complications that may be associated with rigid syndesmotic screw fixation, our investigation suggests that deltoid repair may represent a reasonable alternative to syndesmosis fixation.

Category: Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: Spring ligament tear is often present in advanced stages of the AAFD. Anatomic studies have demonstrated that the superficial deltoid ligament blends with the superomedial spring ligament to provide medial tibiotalar and talonavicular stability. Reconstruction of combined deltoid-spring ligament, or the Tibiocalcaneonvaicular ligament (TCNL) was proposed to augment medial stability in advanced AAFD with large spring ligament tears. A tendon allograft is placed to cross three peritalar (tibiotalar, talonavicular and subtalar) joints to augment medial stability. We aimed to 1) investigate the kinematic effects of TCNL reconstruction in cadaveric flatfoot model with medial ligament insufficiency, and 2) compare TCNL reconstruction with anatomic spring and anatomic deltoid ligament reconstructions (Figure 1). We hypothesized that TCNL reconstruction is effective in restoring peritalar kinematics. Methods: Five fresh-frozen cadaveric foot specimens were employed. Advanced stage flatfoot model was created by sectioning the medial and inferior talonavicular interosseous ligament and extending the release 2 cm proximally along the superomedial spring ligament. Cyclic axial load of 1150 N under a hydraulic loading frame with constant 350 N Achilles tendon load were applied until >15° talo-first metatarsal abduction was achieved. Bone tunnels were drilled for three reconstruction types, and the peroneus longus tendon was configured to reconstruct the 1) anatomic spring ligament, 2) anatomic deltoid ligament, and 3) TCNL. Reflective markers were mounted on the tibia, talus, navicula, calcaneus and first metatarsus. Each reconstruction type was loaded with 800 N ground reaction force, and kinematics of the peritalar joints were captured by 4-camera motion capture system. Forefoot abduction angle, Meary’s angle, and hindfoot valgus were calculated and compared to the severe flatfoot prior to reconstruction and to each using two-way ANOVA. Results: In creating the flatfoot deformity, both the tibiotalar and subtalar joints demonstrated an increase in valgus deformity by 5.6+3.7° and 6.1+5.3°, respectively, compared to the initial measurements. When comparing to the flatfoot deformity, the TCNL reconstruction achieved a significant improvement in percent correction of total hindfoot valgus (59.7+21.1%, p=0.017) and forefoot abduction angle (83.4+17.7%, pConclusion: In advanced stage cadaveric flatfoot with spring ligament tear, we found increased valgus alignment at both the tibiotalar and subtalar joints. This kinematic changes reflects increased strain across the medial peritalar ligaments. The deltoid-spring ligament complex (TCNL) reconstruction demonstrated significantly improved alignment of hindfoot valgus and forefoot abduction compared to the severe flatfoot condition. This finding suggests that in addition to osseous correction and tendon transfer, the TCNL reconstruction may serve as an important component in augmenting medial stability in advanced AAFD with medial ligament insufficiency.

Category: Trauma Introduction/Purpose: There remains a controversy to repair deltoid ligament in SER type IV equivalence of acute ankle fracture. Some surgeons prefer conservative treatment with casting while others prefer to repair deltoid ligament after distal fibular fixation. However, there is a little evidence to report comparative outcomes between the two methods. There remains a controversy to repair deltoid ligament in SER type IV equivalence of acute ankle fracture. Some surgeons prefer conservative treatment with casting while others prefer to repair deltoid ligament after distal fibular fixation. However, there is a little evidence to report comparative outcomes between the two methods. The purpose of this study was to report clinical and functional outcomes including complications between the two methods. Methods: A prospective, randomized collected data of 41 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with SER type IV equivalence acute ankle fracture and underwent either conservative treatment (20 patients) or deltoid repair (21 patients) between 2015 and 2017. A minimum follow up to be included in the study was 6 months (mean, 13.2 months; range, 6 to 30 months). The primary outcome was visual analogue scale (VAS), Short Form-36 (SF-36); physical and mental component scores, and FAAM; ADL and Sport. Pre- and post-operative SF-36, FAAM, and pain (Visual Analog Scale) were obtained and compared between the two groups using independent t-test. The secondary outcomes were time to return to activity of daily living, sports, work, and complications. Results: There were 41 patients (30 male and 11 female) with mean age of 29.7 years (range, 18-70 years) and mean BMI of 26.7 kg/m2 (range, 18.3-33.6 kg/m2). Both methods demonstrated significant improvement of post-operative functional outcomes (FAAM, SF-36, and VAS (p < 0.05 all)) compared to pre-operative period; however, there was no significant different between the two groups. Functional outcomes between casting and deltoid repair groups were time to return to activity of daily living (10.4 vs 11.7 weeks), works (12.1 vs 12.9 weeks), sport (25.9 vs 23.7 weeks), weight bearing medial clear space (2.9 vs 3.9 mm), and complications included medial side ankle pain (57 vs 15%) and painful scar (0 vs 15%) for cast and deltoid repair respectively. Conclusion: Both casting and deltoid repair were demonstrated significant improvement in terms of functional outcomes as measured with the FAAM, SF-36, and VAS in patients with SER IV equivalent ankle fracture. Although there was no significant difference of functional outcome in short term of follow-up, deltoid repair group was better in term of medial side ankle pain and lesser medial clear space widening.

Our goal was to quantify and visualize the three-dimensional loading relationship between the ligaments and articular surfaces of the ankle to identify and determine the stabilizing roles of these anatomical structures during the stance phase of gait.We applied discrete element analysis to computationally model the three-dimensional contact characteristics and ligament loading of the ankle joint. Physiologic loads approximating those at five positions in the stance phase of a normal walk cycle were applied. We analyzed joint contact pressures and periankle ligament tension concurrently.Most ankle joint loading during the stance phase occurred across the articular surfaces of the joint, and the amount of ligament tension was small. The tibiotalar articulation showed full congruency throughout most of the stance phase, with peak pressure developing anteriorly toward the toe-off frame. Of the periankle ligaments, the deep deltoid ligament transferred the most force during the stance phase (57.2%); the superficial deltoid ligament transferred the second-most force (26.1%). The anterior talofibular ligament transferred force between the talus and fibula continuously, whereas the calcaneofibular ligament did not carry force during gait. The distal tibiofibular ligaments and the interosseous membrane were loaded throughout the stance phase.Force transmission through the ankle joint during the stance phase is predominantly through the articular surfaces, and the periankle ligaments do not play a major stabilizing role in constraining ankle motion. The medial ligaments have a more important role than do the lateral ligaments in stabilizing the ankle joint.In addition to ligament insufficiency, other factors, such as varus tilt of the tibial plafond, may be important in the development of recurrent instability. Continuous loading of syndesmosis ligaments provides a theoretical basis for evidence of syndesmosis screw breakage or loosening. The analysis method has potential applications for clarifying ankle joint function and providing a basis for comparison between normal and abnormal joint conditions.

Background: Lauge-Hansen supination-external rotation Stage IV ankle injuries may simulate a Stage II or Stage III injury radiographically if the medial disruption occurred through the deltoid ligament instead of the medial malleolus, making it difficult to determine whether an operation is indicated. Materials and Methods: Seventeen patients presented with radiographically isolated lateral malleolar fractures at the syndesmotic level. They were examined with ultrasonography for evaluation of the integrity of the deltoid ligament. Patients in whom ultrasonography showed complete rupture of the deltoid ligament received operative fixation of the ankle fracture, with exploration and repair of the deltoid ligament at the same time. Patients without complete rupture of the deltoid ligament were treated conservatively with a short leg cast for 6 weeks followed by an ankle brace for another 6 weeks. Nine male and six female patients completed the final clinical and radiographic evaluations. Results: Ultrasonography showed complete rupture of the deltoid ligament in six patients. Exploration of the deltoid ligaments confirmed the sonographic findings in all these patients. In the remaining nine patients, the deltoid ligaments were not completely ruptured on ultrasound. These fractures were treated conservatively, and all healed uneventfully. All the 15 patients had good or fair results on the final evaluation. Conclusion: Ultrasonography is a convenient and accurate diagnostic tool to differentiate unstable bimalleolar-equivalent ankle fractures from an isolated lateral malleolar fracture. Thus, it can be helpful in the decision process for the treatment of choice for different fracture patterns.

In patients with immature skeletons, ligamentous injuries rarely accompany ankle fractures. In this article, we report about deltoid ligament tears and syndesmotic disruptions accompanying triplane ankle fractures in two children, and make recommendations as to the evaluation and treatment of children with such injuries.

Background: The effect of plantarflexion on radiographic indicators of instability was investigated in matched pairs of stable ankles and unstable ankle fractures with complete deltoid ligament tears to test the hypothesis that differences exist in indicators as a function of either stability or position. The purpose of this study was to determine whether plantarflexion increases radiographic indicators of ankle fracture instability. Methods: Measurements from 34 patients scheduled for operative treatment of unstable ankle fractures were collected prospectively from normal, stable ankles and the injured, unstable ankles. Instability was defined as a positive fluoroscopic stress examination under anesthesia. Stability and instability and neutral position and plantarflexion were associated with eight radiographic indicators of which five were distances in millimeters and three were binomial (either stable or unstable). Results: Measurements were larger in the unstable ankles than in the normal stable ankles. Plantarflexion was associated with increased distances in stable ankles, and a trend was seen in unstable ankles. Plantarflexion was associated with increased binomial indicators in unstable ankles but not in stable ankles. Discussion: Joint positioning affected measurement of ankle stability: plantarflexion increased the sensitivity of radiographic indicators.

Background: The pathology manifested in posterior tibial tendon insufficiency (PTTI) is not limited to the posterior tibial tendon. The association of ligament failure with deformity has been discussed in numerous publications, but extensive documentation of the structures involved has not been performed. The purpose of this observational study was to identify the pattern of ligament involvement using standarized, high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a series of 31 consecutive patients diagnosed with PTTI compared to an age matched control group without PTTI. Method: The structures evaluated by MRI were the posterior tibial tendon, superomedial and inferomedial components of the spring ligament complex, talocalcaneal interosseous ligament, long and short plantar ligaments, plantar fascia, deltoid ligament, plantar naviculocuneiform ligament, and tarsometatarsal ligaments. Structural derangement was graded on a five-part scale (0 to IV) with level 0 being normal and level IV indicating a tear of more than 50% of the cross-sectional area of the ligament. Standard flatfoot measurements taken from preoperative plain standing radiographs were correlated with the MRI grading system. Results: Statistically significant differences in frequency of pathology in the PTTI group and controls were found for the superomedial calcaneonavicular ligament ( p < 0.0001), inferomedial calcaneonavicular ligament ( p < 0.0001), interosseous ligament ( p = 0.0009), anterior component of the superficial deltoid ( p < 0.0001), plantar metatarsal ligaments ( p = 0.0002) and plantar naviculocuneiform ligament ( p = 0.0006). The ligaments with the most severe involvement were the spring ligament complex (superomedial and inferomedial calcaneonavicular ligaments) and the talocalcaneal interosseous ligament. Conclusion: Ligament involvement is extensive in PTTI, and the spring ligament complex is the most frequently affected. Because ligament pathology in PTTI is nearly as common as posterior tibial tendinopathy, treatment should seek to protect or prevent progressive failure of these ligaments.

Background:Chronic deltoid ligament insufficiency that results in valgus tilt of the talus within the ankle mortise (stage IV adult acquired flatfoot) represents a difficult and so far unsolved problem in foot and ankle surgery. If left uncorrected, the deltoid failure with malalignment predisposes to early ankle arthritis and the need for ankle arthrodesis or possibly ankle arthroplasty.Methods:Five consecutive patients with deltoid ligament insufficiency resulting in a valgus tilt were treated with a deltoid reconstruction. Reconstruction of the deltoid ligament was done by passing a peroneus longus tendon graft through a bone tunnel in the talus from lateral to medial and then through a second tunnel from the tip of the medial malleolus to the lateral tibia.Results:At a minimum 2-year followup, all patients had correction of the talar tilt. One patient had 9 degrees of valgus tilt remaining compared to 15 degrees preoperatively, and the procedure was considered a failure. The remaining four patients had correction of the valgus tilt to 4 degrees or less.Conclusion:Although not uniformly successful, deltoid ligament reconstruction using a tendon graft through appropriate bone tunnels can reconstruct the deltoid ligament and correct the valgus talar tilt. Successful results were achieved when combined with correction of flatfoot deformity, which is considered a necessary part of the procedure.

The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine insertion area, length and thickness of the various bundles and their anatomical relationship with inter-individual differences. Twelve ankles from human cadavers (ages 56 to 95 years, from nine men and three women) were dissected to the capsuloligamentous structures. Marked inter-individual differences were found for the five main ligaments (tibiospring, tibiocalcaneal, posterior and anterior deep tibiotalar and superficial posterior tibiotalar). The tibionavicular ligament is a thickened fibrous layer of the ankle capsule. The tibiocalcaneal and tibiospring ligaments are the longest, and the tibiocalcaneal and posterior deep tibiotalar ligaments are the thickest of these ligaments. Fibrils run in the direction of the tibia or dorsally. Knowledge of the deltoid ligament complex is necessary for anatomically and biomechanically correct reconstruction that provides stability without hazard to biomechanics of function.

Category: Basic Sciences/Biologics, Hindfoot, Midfoot/Forefoot Introduction/Purpose: The medial ligaments are integral in stabalising the medial column. Failure of these structures causes adult acquired flatfoot deformity (AAFD). The superomedial-cancaneonavicular component of the spring ligament(SLC) includes the medial capsule of the talonavicular joint and merges with the anterior superficial component of the deltoid complex, stabilising the talonavicular joint. However, when disrupted, it does not cause planovalgus deformity until the foot is cyclically loaded. We hypothesise that the next structure in the sequential failure cascade is the tibionavicular component of the Deltoid complex(TN) . With the failure of the SLC and the secondary effect of the posterior tibial tendon this ligament is the gatekeeper to stability of the midfoot, preventing plantar subluxation of the talus, and maintaining the radiographic lateral talo-first metatarsal angle. Methods: A prospective case control study using a novel MRI technique to image the TN. We scanned 20 consecutive normal feet and 20 with clinical and radiological AFFD. The AFFD group was subdivided into normal or abnormal TN. We assessed for pathology in the SLC, deltoid ligament (with conventional sequences) and posterior tibial tendon (PT). Imaging of the TN was performed using a novel sequence, which was an oblique view in both T1 and T2 sequence in the plane of the TN ligament to identify the normal ligament in the control group, and compare it to the patients with clinical AAFD. All patients had weight bearing AP and lateral radiographs in order to measure the calcaneal pitch, lateral talo-first metatarsal angle, and talo-calcaneal angle. We followed up patients, the end point being surgery or definitive conservative management and discharge. Results: 2 distinct groups of patients were identified. Normal TN(11/20) A mixture of medial ligament pathology was associated with this. All were managed conservatively and discharged from follow-up. The mean Meary’s angle was 6.8°. Abnormal TN(9/20) The ligament was thickened proximally, with distal attenuation and intrasubstance oedema. On sagittal sequence it had the appearance of an omega(O), with dorsal bulging and high signal on T2. The mean Meary’s angle was 13.2°(p 0.013). All patients had PT dysfunction and 8 had SLC attenuation. 5 of these patients have undergone corrective surgery. None had been discharged. The prevalence of the omega in AFFD was 30%. We confirm that the prevalence of deltoid involvement in AFFD is high, particularly in patients with more severe disease. Conclusion: Imaging of the TN is valuable in AFFD, and adds no cost or risk. There is no doubt that sequential failure of the medial ligaments occurs in AFFD. We have shown that the deltoid is involved more often than previously reported. In those with normal TN, our preliminary findings suggest that management can focus on protecting the medial structures. When the TN is attenuated(‘O’ on MRI), this represents a foot transitioning to a more severe deformity, both clinically and structurally. From our experience, these patients are more likely to have a progressive, less flexible planovalgus deformity, often requiring corrective surgery.

Category: Ankle, Sports Introduction/Purpose: Deltoid Ligament Reconstruction: Clinical Outcomes. The Deltoid ligament is a primary ligamentous stabilizer of the ankle joint. Deltoid ligament insufficiency has been demonstrated to decrease tibiotalar contact area by around 43%. The authors report on their clinical outcomes of repairing deltoid ligament in the acute and chronic settings. Methods: 61 Deltoid ligament reconstructions in the acute setting and 24 in the chronic setting (of which 7 had an additional medial displacing calcaneal osteotomy) were followed up over a period of 1 year. This study was performed in St. Vincent’s University Hospital - Dublin, Republic of Ireland (Teaching hospital for University College Dublin). Results: 100% of patients receiving deltoid ligament reconstruction in the acute setting returned to sports within 3.5 months. 1.8% had excessive scaring requiring arthroscopic debridement. In the chronic setting, 95.8% of patients returned to sports at 6 months. Conclusion: Deltoid ligament reconstruction is associated with favorable outcomes and return to sports.