A radiographic study of the ligamentous anatomy of the ankle

Abstract

Ankle trauma commonly results in significant injury. Knowledge of the anatomy of the normally nonopaque major supportive ligaments, and their relationships to the osseous structures seen on standard roentgenograms, facilitates interpretation of both plain films and ankle arthrograms. A group of normal, non-preserved ankles was dissected. The laterally located anterior talofibular calcaneofibular, posterior talofibular, distal anterior tibiofibular ligaments, and the medially located deltoid ligament were carefully defined. They were coated with a mixture of powdered tantalum, photographed, and then radiographed in standard projections. The normal gross anatomy of these major supportive ligaments of the ankle and their relationship to the osseous structures about the ankle are remarkably constant.