Ankle tear drop sign (illustration)

Case contributed by Andrew Murphy
Diagnosis not applicable

Scroll to see joint effusion

Diagram

Note the teardrop-shaped outpouching, secondary to joint effusion due to a fracture, displacing the pre-talar fat pad. This results in a tear-drop-shaped opacity on the lateral radiograph of an ankle.

Case Discussion

The teardrop sign of the ankle is secondary to joint effusion, often due to trauma. Because of the tightly bound medial and lateral articular capsule, joint effusions will be mostly restricted to the anterior and posterior recesses.

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