Spring ligament complex
Citation, DOI & article data
Citation:
Dang D, Knipe H, Al Kabbani A, et al. Spring ligament complex. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 09 Feb 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-5398
rID:
5398
Article created:
14 Jan 2009 by David Dang
Revisions:
22 times by 12 users - see full revision history
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Synonyms:
- Plantar calcaneonavicular ligament
- Spring ligament
- Plantar calcaneonavicular ligament complex
The spring (plantar calcaneonavicular) ligament complex is a group of ligaments that connect the calcaneum and navicular and support the talus.
On this page:
Gross anatomy
The spring ligament complex has three components:
-
superomedial ligament
- forms a sling, suspending/articulating against the head of the talus
- origin from anterior sustentaculum tali with a wide insertion onto the navicular
- merges with the inferior aspect of the tibiospring ligament (a portion of the superficial deltoid ligament), as best appreciated on coronal views 2
- strongest and most important longitudinal arch stabilizer; also most commonly torn/repaired
-
medioplantar oblique ligament
- also known as the lateral calcaneonavicular ligament
-
inferoplantar longitudinal ligament
- also known as the intermedial calcaneonavicular ligament
- minor role in stabilizing hindfoot and longitudinal arch 2
These ligaments act as the primary static stabilizers of the medial arch of the foot and, together with the posterior tibialis tendon (primary dynamic stabilizer), help support normal hindfoot relations.
Clinical importance
Failure of these stabilizers leads to hindfoot valgus and pes planus / pes planovalgus 2.
Related pathology
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References
- 1. Bloem HL et-al. Musculoskeletal Imaging, 2e (Expert Radiology). Saunders. ISBN:1455708135. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Omar H, Saini V, Wadhwa V, Liu G, Chhabra A. Spring ligament complex: Illustrated normal anatomy and spectrum of pathologies on 3T MR imaging. (2016) European journal of radiology. 85 (11): 2133-2143. doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2016.09.023 - Pubmed
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