Is load application necessary when using computed tomography scans to diagnose syndesmotic injuries? A cadaver study.
Deltoid ligament injury
Imaging
Syndesmotic injury
Weightbearing CT
Journal
Foot and ankle surgery : official journal of the European Society of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
ISSN: 1460-9584
Titre abrégé: Foot Ankle Surg
Pays: France
ID NLM: 9609647
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Feb 2020
Feb 2020
Historique:
received:
12
12
2018
revised:
27
01
2019
accepted:
09
02
2019
pubmed:
12
3
2019
medline:
2
9
2020
entrez:
12
3
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Injuries to the distal tibio-fibular ligaments are common. While pronounced injuries can be reliably diagnosed using conventional radiographs, assessment of subtle syndesmotic injuries is challenging. This cadaver study determines the impact of loading on the assessment of incomplete and more complete syndesmotic injuries when using weightbearing computed tomography (CT) scans. Fourteen paired male cadavers (tibial plateau to toe-tip) were included. A radiolucent frame held specimens in a plantigrade position while both non-weightbearing and weightbearing computed tomography (CT) scans were taken. The following conditions were tested: First, intact ankles (Native) were scanned. Second, one specimen from each pair underwent anterior inferior tibio-fibular ligament (AITFL) transection (Condition 1A), while the contralateral underwent deltoid transection (Condition 1B). Third, the remaining intact deltoid or AITFL was transected from each specimen (Condition 2). Finally, the distal tibiofibular interosseous membrane (IOM) was transected in all ankles (Condition 3). Eight different measurements were performed to assess the integrity of the distal tibio-fibular syndesmosis on axial CT scans. Load application had no impact on most measurements. While incomplete syndesmotic injuries could not be identified, cadavers with more complete injuries differentiated from native ankles when assessed using axial CT images. No significant difference was evident between discrete AITFL or deltoid ligament transection. In a cadaver model, load application had no effect on the assessment of the distal tibio-fibular syndesmosis in incomplete and more complete syndesmotic injuries. Only more complete injuries of the distal tibio-fibular syndesmosis could be identified using axial CT images.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Injuries to the distal tibio-fibular ligaments are common. While pronounced injuries can be reliably diagnosed using conventional radiographs, assessment of subtle syndesmotic injuries is challenging. This cadaver study determines the impact of loading on the assessment of incomplete and more complete syndesmotic injuries when using weightbearing computed tomography (CT) scans.
METHODS
METHODS
Fourteen paired male cadavers (tibial plateau to toe-tip) were included. A radiolucent frame held specimens in a plantigrade position while both non-weightbearing and weightbearing computed tomography (CT) scans were taken. The following conditions were tested: First, intact ankles (Native) were scanned. Second, one specimen from each pair underwent anterior inferior tibio-fibular ligament (AITFL) transection (Condition 1A), while the contralateral underwent deltoid transection (Condition 1B). Third, the remaining intact deltoid or AITFL was transected from each specimen (Condition 2). Finally, the distal tibiofibular interosseous membrane (IOM) was transected in all ankles (Condition 3). Eight different measurements were performed to assess the integrity of the distal tibio-fibular syndesmosis on axial CT scans.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Load application had no impact on most measurements. While incomplete syndesmotic injuries could not be identified, cadavers with more complete injuries differentiated from native ankles when assessed using axial CT images. No significant difference was evident between discrete AITFL or deltoid ligament transection.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
In a cadaver model, load application had no effect on the assessment of the distal tibio-fibular syndesmosis in incomplete and more complete syndesmotic injuries. Only more complete injuries of the distal tibio-fibular syndesmosis could be identified using axial CT images.
Identifiants
pubmed: 30853391
pii: S1268-7731(19)30024-4
doi: 10.1016/j.fas.2019.02.002
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
198-204Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2019 European Foot and Ankle Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.