Presentation
Right ankle inversion injury one week before the presentation. The patient was referred for an ultrasound evaluation of the lateral ankle ligaments.
Patient Data
There is joint effusion in the anterior recess of the ankle. There is a discontinuity in the midpart of the anterior talofibular ligament which is better appreciated with anterior drawer stress. The calcaneofibular ligament is intact. However, its caudal 2/3rd segment shows thickening along with hypoechogenicity. The posterior talofibular ligament and anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament show normal echopattern. The dorsal talonavicular ligament and the bifurcate ligament are also normal.
Case Discussion
A patient had foot inversion while playing volleyball which was followed by lateral ankle region pain and swelling. An initial ankle radiograph was negative for bony injury. The case shows lateral ankle ligaments injury. There are anterior talofibular ligament tear and calcaneofibular ligament sprain.
The anterior talofibular ligament is the most commonly injured ligament in lateral ankle ligaments; either isolated or in combination with a CFL tear 1. The posterior talofibular ligament is rarely torn in the ankle sprain as it is the strongest, deepest ligament 1.