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Radiologic consideration of acute ankle sprains: diagnostic imaging
Arthrosc Orthop Sports Med 2024;11:39-48
Published online November 1, 2024;  https://doi.org/10.14517/aosm24010
© 2024 Korean Arthroscopy Society and Korean Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine.

Dong-Il Chun*, Seung Lim Baek*, Sung Hun Won

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Korea
Correspondence to: Sung Hun Won, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5471-7432
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, 59 Daesagwan-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04401, Korea.
Tel: +82-2-709-9250, Fax: +82-2-710-3191, E-mail: orthowon@schmc.ac.kr

*These authors contributed equally to this work as first authors.
Received September 12, 2024; Revised September 24, 2024; Accepted September 29, 2024.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Acute ankle sprains commonly involve the stretching or tearing of ankle ligaments and account for a significant portion of emergency room visits and sports injuries. The lateral ligament complex, particularly the anterior talofibular ligament, is most commonly affected. Generally, injuries are classified into stretching (sprain), partial tear, and complete tear. Diagnostic imaging is crucial in confirming ligament injuries. Simple radiographs, including anteroposterior, lateral, and mortise views, are essential in assessing the tibiofibular relationship and identifying syndesmotic and deltoid ligament injuries. Stress radiography, ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are also used to provide detailed evaluations of ligament injuries. Ultrasonography is particularly effective for real-time dynamic assessments, whereas MRI offers superior visualization of ligament damage, bone contusions, and other associated injuries. The severity of acute ankle sprains varies widely, and undiagnosed and untreated cases can significantly impair the patient’s quality of life. Therefore, musculoskeletal specialists must understand the anatomical structures of the ankle ligaments and injury mechanisms to avoid missing any injuries through proper diagnostic imaging to prevent chronic complications such as ankle instability and osteoarthritis.
Keywords : Sprains and strains; Anatomy; Mechanism of injury; Radiology
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