The anterior talofibular ligament ratio was greater in young men with generalized joint laxity than in those without generalized joint laxity

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between generalized joint laxity (GJL) and stress ultrasonographic (US) findings of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) of healthy young men.

Methods: The ATFL lengths of healthy young men were consecutively measured in the stress and nonstress positions. The ATFL ratio was calculated as an indicator of lateral ankle laxity. GJL was evaluated using the Beighton score (BS), and a BS of ≥ 5 was considered GJL. The manual anterior drawer test (ADT) was also performed. The results of stress US and ADT were compared between subjects with and without GJL, and the correlation between GJL and US findings was examined.

Results: A total of 13 subjects with GJL and 95 without GJL were included in the study. The mean BSs in the GJL and no-GJL groups were 5.9 ± 0.9 and 1.1 ± 1.3, respectively (p < 0.0001). The GJL group showed a higher grade of ADT than the no-GJL group (p < 0.0001). Significant differences were found in the stress ATFL length (23.6 ± 1.8 mm vs. 21.7 ± 1.8 mm, p = 0.002) and ATFL ratio (1.15 ± 0.06 vs. 1.07 ± 0.03, p < 0.0001) between the GJL and no-GJL groups. Spearman's correlation coefficients showed a moderate correlation between the BS and ATFL ratio (r = 0.45, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: The present study showed significant differences in the ATFL ratio and stress ATFL length between young men with and without GJL. The BS was moderately correlated with the lateral ankle laxity in this population.

Level of evidence: Level IV.

Keywords: Anterior talofibular ligament; Beighton score; Generalized joint laxity; Lateral ankle laxity; Men; Stress ultrasonography.