Radiological and Muscular Status Following Injury to the Lateral Ligaments of the AnkleFollow-up of 144 Patients Treated Conservatively

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
An average of 4.2 yr after conservative treatment of injury to the lateral ligaments of the ankle 144 patients attended a follow-up examination which included radiography and measurement of the strength of plantar flexion. Prior to treatment all of the patients had a difference in talar tilt of .gtoreq. 6.degree. between the injured and uninjured side. At follow-up there was instability in 28 patients, 19.4%, but no correlation between instability and residual symptoms. Nine patients had an anterior drawer sign exceeding 2 mm, but this was without relation to residual symptoms. Radiological evidence of osteoarthrosis was found in 5 patients, but 4 of them had a stable ankle joint and 1 had residual symptoms. The mean age of the patients with osteoarthrosis was twice that for the entire material. Two patients had osteochondritis of the talus. The strength of plantar flexion was measured in 124 patients. There was significantly less strength in the injured than in the uninjured leg, but there was no statistically significant correlation between residual symptoms and reduced strength or between radiological instability and reduced strength. Present principles regarding the diagnosis and conservative treatment of injury to the lateral ligaments of the ankle should not be altered.

This publication has 10 references indexed in Scilit: