Prevalence of syndesmosis injuries associated with acute ligamentous injuries on magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of inferior tibiofibular syndesmosis injuries in patients with acute lateral ligament injuries found on complementary nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed in a diagnostic imaging clinic. Methods: The images and medical reports of 429 ankle MRI examinations were evaluated from March to December 2017. After applying the exclusion criteria, 346 examinations were eliminated. Thus, a total of 93 MRI scans compatible with acute ankle ligament injuries were examined for associated syndesmosis injury. Results: The presence of syndesmosis injury was observed in 8 patients (8.6%). In all individuals with syndesmosis injuries, the anterior fibulotalar ligament (AFTL) and the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL) were affected. The most common lesion in this type of injury was partial AFTL lesion (6 cases), followed by partial AITFL lesion (5 cases). Of the 93 MRI results evaluated, the lateral complex ligament most commonly affected was the AFTL, with 91 lesions, partial and total, which were present in 97.85% of the MRI examinations. Partial AFTL lesions were observed in 49 patients (52.68%), representing the most common lesion, and total AFTL lesions were observed in 42 patients (45.16%). Conclusion: No increase was found in the prevalence of syndesmosis injuries associated with acute ligamentous injuries evaluated by MRI. Level of Evidence III; Diagnostic Studies; Study of Non Consecutive Patients.